Panama’s Atlantic hub attracts its first post-Panamax boxship

Panama’s Atlantic hub attracts its first post-Panamax boxship    Manzanillo International Terminal became the first Panamanian port at the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal to be called by a post-Panamax 6,000-TEU containership June 30, when a Maersk Sealand vessel called at the terminal.
   By definition, the post-Panamax ship, the “Kirsten Maersk,” could not transit the Panama Canal. It discharged about 1,800 containers, mainly reefer boxes due to be transshipped to South America, and loaded 390 containers, mainly empties that will be repositioned to Asia. The ship sailed from Panama to the U.S. East Coast and will then proceed to the Suez Canal before reaching Asia.
   A Maersk Sealand spokesman said the vessel was an “extra loader” that was used for a one-off voyage before being phased into the company’s TP9 Asia/U.S. West Coast service.
   “We are very proud to be the first terminal in Panama to service a post-Panamax container vessel,” said Carlos Urriola, managing director of Manzanillo International Terminal.
   Manzanillo International Terminal is a joint venture between Seattle-based SSA Marine and a group of Panamanian investors.