CMA CGM's 334-metre long Cendrillon, the longest ship ever to enter the Port of Koper, was moored alongside the Container Terminal.
The Cendrillon, with the capacity of 8500 TEUs, is the first in a series of five larger ships that the French container shipping company will include in the existing Phoenician Express service that directly connects Koper with the ports of Far East.
It is also a part of CMA CGM's preparation for the autumn establishment of P3 Alliance, an operational alliance of three of the largest global container shipping companies: CMA CGM, Maersk line, MSC).
The Port of Koper (Luka Koper) was for this occasion visited by Mr. Philippe Lesbros, Deputy Vice-President at CMA CGM, who noted the port's progress and again pointed out the support of the French shipping company to Luka Koper's development plans.
The Cendrillon is in fact their second ship that made the port's history; in 2008 Balzac inaugurated the completion of the investment in the extension of Pier I, and the acquisition of new container cranes, and simultaneously launched a new direct line with Far East.
Andraz Novak, Luka Koper's Management Board President, thanked Mr. Lesbros for the trust and the support, and presented him with the plans aimed to increase of the Container Terminal capacity.
In addition to seabed deepening to -14 m, the increase of storage capacities on the pier has also been underway.
This investment will provide additional 6,840 m2, enabling the storing of additional 672 TEUs.
In addition to seabed dredging in Basin I (to -15 m), the project also includes construction of an additional 100 m of quayside with the accompanying equipment. The project has the estimated value of EUR 78 million, and will be executed in stages by 2018.
With the extension of Pier I, the annual cargo throughput capacity of the Container Terminal will increase from the current 750,000 to 980,000 TEUs.