The largest container ship ever to call at a North American port, CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on December 26.
The ship is almost a quarter mile in length and is 20 stories high. It has a capacity of nearly 18,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), which is about a third larger than the biggest container ships that currently call at the San Pedro Bay port complex.
The ship’s 1,306 feet length is comparable to the height of the 102- story tall Empire State Building, and its width matches that of an Olympic- sized swimming pool, according to port officials.
"As we were reminded nearly a year ago when activity at the ports along the West Coast came to a near standstill, our ports are a critical economic engine at the local, regional and national levels,” said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.
“Their effective, efficient operation is necessary for 21st century global commerce, and this ship's arrival demonstrates that the Port of LA is prepared for the next phase of modern trade," Perez added. "Working together, the shipping companies and port workers have enabled the port to bounce back from last year’s slowdown and show the world its capabilities.”
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said the ship’s arrival “signals a new chapter in Pacific Rim trade flow and supply chain optimization.”
CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin will depart the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 30, for the Port of Oakland.
