Discover the Cosco-Netherlands: Ratings & Maritime News

(Xinhua) — In a remarkable fusion of past and present, one of the most technologically advanced vessels in the maritime industry has embarked on a journey to revive the legendary Maritime Silk Road. The Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands set sail from Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai on Sunday at 7 p.m. local time (1100 GMT), marking a significant event at the world’s largest cargo port. The ship's itinerary includes key stops at the Port of Ningbo in eastern China, the Port of Singapore, the Suez Canal, Piraeus Port in Greece, with concluding destinations in Rotterdam, Netherlands; Hamburg, Germany; and Antwerp, Belgium over a span of approximately 40 days. Onboard are various products from globally recognized brands such as Hewlett-Packard (HP) computers, Sony LCD monitors, Hisense televisions, Haier refrigerators, automotive spare parts, and bicycles, primarily assembled or manufactured in China, en route to customers in northwestern Europe and beyond. This colossal container ship, boasting a weight exceeding 150,000 tons, measures 366 meters in length, 51.2 meters in width, and reaches a height of 67 meters, accommodating up to 13,386 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). The vessel was constructed in 2013 by Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. The M.V. COSCO Netherlands, owned by China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, is part of a vast global network featuring over 100 routes, connecting the Far East to northwestern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, and various regional services throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. This maritime expedition retraces a route historically significant for trade and cultural exchange, echoing the legacy of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

On November 6, a significant event took place at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering with the grand christening ceremony of the MV COSCO NETHERLANDS, a colossal 13,386 TEU container ship. Key figures in attendance included Mr. Han Chengmin, President of NACKS, and Mr. Hou Liping, Deputy Managing Director of COSCON, alongside numerous esteemed guests from COSCON and COSCO Mercury. In a momentous occasion, Ms. Mu Wen, Executive Vice President of Beijing Benz Automotive, officially named the ship in a ceremony filled with maritime tradition. The MV COSCO NETHERLANDS marks the fourth addition to a series of eight impressive vessels being constructed for COSCON at Nantong Shipyard (NACKS). Once operational, this state-of-the-art ship will join the ranks of the COSCON CKYH Joint North Europe Express Service 3 (NE3), enhancing the shipping network with her robust capabilities. The port rotation for the NE3 service includes major hubs: Xingang, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Singapore, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Antwerp, and Hong Kong before returning to Shanghai and Xingang.