MSC Elenoire sets new record for deepest draft handled in UK port
The MSC Elenoire has become the deepest draught container vessel to call in the United Kingdom. Operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company, the 16,600 TEU vessel arrived at the Port of Felixstowe from Tanjung Pelapas in Malaysia with a draught of 17.1 metres.
With the increasing number of mega-max and deep-draught vessels operating on the main Europe-Asia trade, marine access is increasingly vital to operational efficiency, schedule reliability and customer service. The depth of the approach channel to Felixstowe was increased by Harwich Haven Authority from 14.5 metres to 16.0 metres in 2023, making it the only container port in the UK capable of handling 17m vessel calls. The depths at the port’s Berths 8&9 were increased from 16.0 metres to 18.0 metres at the same time. In total, Felixstowe has nine container berths, four of which can accommodate 24,000 TEU mega-max vessels.
The MSC Elenoire is on the 2M Griffin service which calls at: Tanjung Pelepas, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Tanger Med, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen and Yantian.
It's great to see the Port of Felixstowe leading the way in handling deep-draught vessels! The arrival of MSC Elenoire highlights the importance of continued investment in marine access to support global trade and operational efficiency at our local port. A fantastic achievement for UK shipping!