World’s largest container vessel CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin berths at US port

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the first 18,000-TEU capacity container ship to call a US port, successfully berthed at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, necessitating unprecedented deployment of cargo handling equipment at the port.

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, a megaboat that is longer than the Empire State Building, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles over the weekend, making it the biggest ship to ever touch US shores.

The massive ship is as tall as a 20-story building and wider than a football field.

After making its maiden voyage from China, where it was built, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday

An official delegation, which included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other high-ranking elected officials from throughout Southern California, was there to welcome the vessel's arrival.

''For the first time in the US History, an 18,000 container-capacity vessel called at a US port. As a pioneer group, this unprecedented call shows CMA CGM's strong faith in long-term growth potential of the US economy and our commitment to increasing our US market share. Since its creation, the CMA CGM Group has demonstrated boldness: we anticipate our clients' expectations and we are innovative in order to create bespoke solutions,'' Jacques R Saadé, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of CMA CGM Group, said.

"The momentous arrival of this ship shows how the Port of Los Angeles and our maritime partners are successfully collaborating," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who visited the ship during its Los Angeles call. "Thank you to our friends at CMA CGM for their partnership, and I look forward to welcoming many more Benjamin Franklin-sized ships as our port continues to grow."

Receiving an 18,000-TEU capacity vessel for the first time requires long and meticulous preparation to guarantee a flawless call and fluid operations in as little time as possible.

Approximately 11,200 containers were completed during this call in 56 operating hours, with up to 9 cranes being used on the vessel. It is the largest number of cranes deployed simultaneously on the same vessel at the Port of Los Angeles. A reinforced and highly skilled team of longshore workers were used on this unprecedented call.

During this call, more than 4,500 containers were to be carried by train to their final destination. For several weeks, rail cars have been pre-staged to the Port of Los Angeles to ensure fastest turnarounds. Truckers were also notified of this highest level of activity.

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is expected to berth in Oakland on 31 December. For its second stop in the US, the vessel will leave Port of Los Angeles on 29 December and is expected in the Port of Oakland on Thursday, 31 December. The vessel will go under the Golden Gate Bridge on the same day, at approximately 9:30 am Pacific Time.

CMA CGM has launched a photo competition on Instagram to allow three winners to visit the vessel mid-February in Long Beach.

The CMA CGM Group is a French-based shipping company that operates in 160 countries and posted revenues of $16.9 billion in 2014. It has operated in US ports since 1995.