COSCO vessel largest to ever enter Puget Sound

COSCO vessel largest to ever enter Puget Sound    The Port of Seattle plays host today to the 'COSCO Vancouver,' the largest containership to ever visit Puget Sound.
   The 8,000-TEU vessel, 985 feet long and 141 feet wide, is the fifth ship of its type in China Ocean Shipping Co.'s fleet. The others are the 'COSCO Seattle,' 'COSCO Long Beach,' 'COSCO Shenzen,' and 'COSCO Yokohama.' Built at Hyundai Shipyards in Ulsan, Korea, and launched Nov. 5, the 'COSCO Vancouver' is on its third commercial voyage.
   'Seattle is not one of the regular ports of call for the ship, but the vessel is making a special stop here to reposition empty containers that will be loaded with Pacific Northwest exports, including frozen potatoes, onions and animal feed bound for Japan,' the Port of Seattle said in a statement.
   'This gives us an opportunity to show that Seattle has the facilities and equipment to handle the largest containerships afloat,' said Charlie Sheldon, the port's managing director. 'The growth in transpacific trade ' means these ships may eventually be coming here on a regular basis.'
   The port's overall container volume has increased 45 percent in the year ending in February. Inbound full containers are up 57 percent and outbound full containers are up 38 percent, a port spokesperson said.