The Port of Barcelona received the first call from the MSC Sixin, the second largest container ship in the world, which is carrying out loading and unloading operations at the Hutchison Ports BEST terminal.
During the occasion, the president of the Port, Mercè Conesa, thanked MSC for its “commitment to Barcelona, especially in these months, when there is a very significant setback in international maritime traffic and, consequently, cancellations of calls and concentrations of maritime services are taking place “.
The MSC Sixin was launched in 2019 and incorporates the latest technologies currently used in maritime transport, allowing the telematic connection of the so-called “smart containers”. It also has more than 2,000 connections for refrigerated containers and it has been designed following strict environmental criteria, allowing a significant reduction in CO2 for each container transported compared to the average of container ships that are currently operating.
Mr. Conesa also added that
The arrival of the large MSC Gülsün class ships, which operate in the Jade maritime service between Europe and Asia, further consolidates the Port of Barcelona as a distribution hub for the flow of goods between both continents.
In addition, the Port of Barcelona noted that it is prepared to respond to the challenge posed by the arrival of ships of this size. The President added that, in these times of global health and economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19, “it is necessary to be attentive to the changes that are taking place in the commercial and transport flows throughout the world and it is necessary that all stakeholders, shippers, ports and shipping companies, let us work together to meet the needs of the societies in which we serve. ”
Finally, the President of the Port stated that “the design of ships such as the MSC Sixin means that emissions by each container transported are substantially reduced with respect to those of ships in service so far, thus aligning with the Port’s environmental objectives.”
Finally, MSC Sixin unloaded hydroalcoholic solution, latex gloves and medical machinery, destined to combat the COVID-19 crisis.
