Mediterranean Shipping Company's 902-foot Carolina docked at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal recently, setting container volume records at Port docks.
The vessel, constructed in 2005, will require 2,105 container moves, the highest volume of containers ever handled by one vessel at the Port of New Orleans. The Carolina sailed at noon on March 30.
'I can't think of anything more appropriate then to bring in one of MSC's newest vessels into the Port of New Orleans to lift the largest volume of containers on one vessel in the Port's history,' said Ed Turncliff, general manager of the shipping company's New Orleans operations. 'MSC is here to stay post Katrina and we plan to continue to build our business in the years to come not only for MSC, but for the Port of New Orleans and the surrounding community.'
The ship, which sails regularly between the Gulf Coast and Europe, is one of nine container vessels and 22 total ships scheduled for Port docks in the next week. The Port is consistently hitting 100% or more of its pre-Katrina ship call volume. In 2004, the Port of New Orleans averaged about 20 ship calls per week.
'This milestone is another example of the brisk recovery of the Port of New Orleans and highlights the importance of the Port not only to the region, but to the world,' said Gary P. LaGrange, the Port's President and CEO.
