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The second of United Arab Shipping Company's (UASC) six ordered 18,800-TEU capacity ultra-large container ships (ULCSs), the LNG-ready Al Muraykh, has called at APM Terminals Zeebrugge this week on its maiden voyage to Europe on the AEC1 (Asia/Europe Container Service 1) route.

The new UASC vessels utilize advanced technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per TEU by 60 percent, compared with 13,500-TEU capacity vessels delivered just three years ago, and are the largest vessels to be able to operate powered by either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or conventional heavy fuel oil. The vessels are the first to have received DNV GL certification of compliance with the latest LNG regulations.

In a statement, Carla Debart, APM Terminals Zeebrugge Managing Director, said: "United Arab Shipping Company is setting a new world standard in environmental performance for liner services, as well as fleet growth, and we are very proud to be a part of this historic process."

Currently the world's 15th-largest shipping line, with a fleet of 56 vessels and an overall capacity of 482,617 TEUs, UASC has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme which includes pending deliveries of 4 18,800-TEU and 6 15,000-TEU vessels, which will add approximately another 170,000 TEUs, increasing its fleet capacity by 35 percent.

APM Terminals Zeebrugge, which is one of a select group of European container terminals that can accommodate ULCSs with containers stacked 10 high and 24 wide, handled 406,000 TEUs in 2014 at North Europe's 7th-busiest container port.

As of September 1, there were 31 vessels of 18,000 TEU capacity or above in service worldwide, with 72 more awaiting delivery.