Freight News, Sea

Port Hueneme greets its first neopanamax arrival

[ August 24, 2016   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Port Hueneme, CA, has received its first Neo-Panamax ship, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics’ High Efficiency Ro/Ro (HERO) vessel, Thalatta. Almost 200 meters long and 36.5 meters wide, the ship can carry 8,000 car equivalent units.

Port Hueneme officials say the arrival of the giant vessel marks a paradigm shift in how the widened Panama Canal will bring a new class of vessels to the port — the only deep water harbor between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

Arrival of the Thalatta also marks a new milestone in support the port’s environmental agenda.

Thalatta is optimally designed to increase capacity and flexibility while reducing emissions. Thalatta is fitted with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System that reduces sulfur emissions to below 0.1% in compliance with ECA regulations and removes 70% of particulate matter, which also significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions. Using a new scrubber based technology, the vessel generates a steam based release at berth instead of diesel exhaust, making it one of the greenest ships in the global Ro/Ro fleet.

Thalatta’s sister ship Themis is anticipated to arrive at the Port of Hueneme this September.

Kristin Decas, Port CEO stated, “We appreciate the business ethic of our customers as they strive to green their fleets and build market share for our port, thereby achieving environmental benefit coupled with the creation of good jobs.”

Tags: Port Hueneme