Hapag Lloyd's Hamburg Express has made her maiden visit to the port of Southampton.

With a dead weight of 106,006 tonnes and nearly 1,050 feet long, the huge vessel has a capacity of 7,506 container units.The German-flagged giant arrived in Europe on the Grand Alliance service calling at Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Colombo, Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ningbo and Yantian Powered by the largest propulsion system of its type. Providing more than 94,000bhp, Hamburg Express has a speed in excess of 25 knots and was able to make the journey from Singapore to Southampton in 16 days. Hamburg Express, which was built by HHI in Ulsan, South Korea, is the first of four new similar-sized ships that Hapag Lloyd will introduce on the Europe-Far East routes over the next year. She arrived in Southampton almost full with 7,380 container units on board before leaving the city for her naming ceremony in Hamburg.

During her time alongside SCT Hamburg Express discharged and loaded more than 4,000 container units.SCT managing director Jerry Rickcord said: "Continued investment in cranes, straddle carriers, land and information technology has been geared to efficiently handle the largest container vessels in service.

"Our handling of the Hamburg Express was further enhanced by utilising the first of our new post-Panamax quayside cranes, capable of handling even larger, yet to be built, vessels.

"These latest cranes with twin lift spreaders, serviced by SCT's twin lift straddle carriers represent our commitment to providing a first class service."