On Thursday February 13th 2015 Cagliari International Container Terminal (CICT) welcomed the maiden call and phase in of the m/v Stuttgart Express, a 294 metres long ship deployed by German carrier Hapag Lloyd AG (HLC) on the jointly run MGX service – the Med Gulf Express string linking the western Mediterranean to Mexican and North American ports.
The m/v Stuttgart Express – an HLC Kiel Class unit with 4,640 TEUs in nominal capacity – was berthed immediately upon arrival in Cagliari. Following schedule, CICT gangs handled part of the containers through direct connection as m/v CSAV Houston, likewise deployed on the MGX, sailed from the terminal a few hours earlier, having discharged most of her cargo to be then loaded on board the m/v Stuttgart Express.
Overall 3,360 moves were performed, having CICT berthed 3 ships, two of which deployed along deep sea services and with a significant portion of the cargo operated through direct connection. Franco Nicola Cupolo – CICT managing director – explained how “..the operational capabilities of our terminal are well known to our customer. Hapag Lloyd rely on the skill and experience which have long branded the people of CICT. And it is in the facts. In 2014 the terminal handled phase in and phase out operations aboard some 23 ships, with each single operation being completed on time and with no operational constraint. Combining all the aforesaid with the strategic positioning of the hub at the heart of the Mediterranean, well, it all blends together to provide an unmatched competitive advantage to our demanding valued customers”.
