The world’s largest and most efficient car carrier made its maiden call at the Port of Charleston’s Union Pier Terminal, representing additional ship calls and increased roll-on roll-off capacity for Charleston’s customers.

The Fedora, a Large Car Truck Carrier (LCTC) operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), was delivered earlier this year and sails in the “EA/NA” service between the US East Coast and North Europe.

Charleston is now being featured as a weekly call in the service, providing much-needed capacity in the export trade from Charleston to North Europe.  With the new service, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has seven vessel calls per month in Charleston.

“There is significant demand for export space from Charleston, so this new service is great news for existing customers and will allow us to pursue new cargo opportunities,” said Fred N. Stribling, vice president of marketing and sales for the South Carolina State Ports Authority.  “We have a strong and longstanding relationship with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, so we are pleased to welcome this service to Charleston.”

Fedora has a capacity of 8,000 car equivalent units.  Overseas ports of call include Bremerhaven (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden), Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Southampton (UK).  The Fedora will be followed next week by a visit from ANIARA, WWL’s latest new build, which also has a capacity of 8,000 car equivalent units.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics won the Maritime Association of South Carolina’s 2008 Environmental Stewardship Award, and the new ships have a number of environmental features.