Club Representatives visit the worlds largest container vessel

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After witnessing the maiden call of the world’s largest container vessel, OOCL HONG KONG, to Felixstowe in June (as reported in Issue 28 ), on 5th December, Syndicate Executive Darren Heppel and Syndicate Associate Stuart James of the Club’s Eastern Syndicate were invited by the Club’s Member, OOCL, to visit the vessel during its call at Trinity Terminal, Felixstowe.In the company of Mr Duncan Simmons, Senior Manager, OOCL UK, Darren and Stuart duly proceeded to the vessel’s berth where the opportunity was taken to appreciate the vessel’s impressive size from the quayside and contemplate the ascent of the boarding ladder.

The ladder was situated in the shadow of one of Trinity’s massive gantry cranes which was working at the time. Boarding the vessel required a temporary halt to container loading operations whilst everyone proceeded upwards. This meant that, at one point, they were eye level with a container suspended some 20 feet up in the air!

On reaching deck level Darren and Stuart (pictured right) were first introduced to Chief Mate Dymytrenko Anatolli  and taken to the bridge to meet Capt Lum (pictured with Darren and Stuart). Capt Lum provided a personal tour of the bridge during which time he explained the bridge lay-out, demonstrated various items of equipment such as the ECDIS and answered questions about the complexities of operating a vessel of this size. They then had the opportunity to see him engaged in his duties as he closely monitored cargo operations.

Chief Mate Anatolli then proceeded to explain stowage operations and how the vessel coordinates with planners located in both the UK and Hong Kong to plan and manage the vessel’s stowage.

In addition to being able to appreciate the size and scale of the vessel itself, the visit proved to be very interesting and highly informative and has provided a useful insight into shipboard operations from the crew’s perspective.

We are extremely grateful and appreciative to OOCL for granting the opportunity to visit the vessel and to Capt Lum and the crew for their hospitality.