Shipping: North Carolina, Oakland

North Carolina: Evergreen Marks Arrival at Wilmington with 8,500 TEU Vessel

 
Ever Laden is the largest container ship ever to call North Carolina’s Port of Wilmington
Photo/North Carolina State Ports Authority

The Port of Wilmington continues to welcome post-Panamaxers, including the Evergreen Ever Laden. With container capacity of approximately 8,452 TEUs, Ever Laden is the largest ship to call the North Carolina port.
 
The Evergreen Ever Laden, which measures 1,099 feet in length (334.98 meters) and 150 feet in width (45.8 meters), is a part of the CKYHE Alliance’s AW3 weekly service. The service connects Asia with the U.S. East Coast via the expanded Panama Canal.  
 
This milestone visit follows the recent return of intermodal rail service to the North Carolina ports and the completion of the turning basin at Wilmington. The turning basin project included the removal of an existing bulk pier and dredging along the port’s side of the Cape Fear River to expand the turning basin from 1,200 feet to 1,400 feet.  The enlarged basin will typically accommodate vessels in the 8,000 to 10,000 TEU range, depending on the vessel’s profile.  

"Our recently expanded capabilities and characteristics make us one of the most appealing ports in the U.S. Southeast," said Ports Authority Executive Director Paul J. Cozza. "We continue to prove we are big ship ready and are excited that container carriers, like Evergreen, recognize the advantages North Carolina has to offer."

Oakland added to Vietnam-China-U.S. Shipping Route

A transpacific shipping route linking Asia and the United States will be calling the Port of Oakland beginning in November.  

The port expects the Calco-C service will bring an additional 50 vessel calls and 30,000 container TEUs arrivals to Oakland annually. It could also create additional waterfront jobs.

The port said the service gives shippers more opportunity to import finished Asian goods such as wearing apparel and consumer electronics. Exporters will gain new routes to Asia for commodities such as California agricultural products.

"K" Line, Wan Hai Lines and Pacific International Lines will operate the service with seven ships ranging in capacity from 8,000 to 9,000 TEUs. The service will call Oakland International Container Terminal weekly beginning November 6.  It also will call Cai Mep in Vietnam; Xiamen, Yantian and Nansha in China; and Long Beach.

"For the benefit of our customers and our community we’re pleased to be joining this service," said Maritime Director John Driscoll. "It’s testament to the vibrant market we serve, and strengthens our role as a key gateway in the transpacific container trade."