The arrival of the first 20,000 TEU ULCV of Ocean Alliance's Asia Mediterranean service further confirms the strategic role of the terminal as a central hub in international trade flows
A new important moment for the port of La Spezia and in particular for La Spezia Container Terminal with the mooring, which took place today, 22 March, in complete safety and without delays, of the MV COSCO SHIPPING Aries. This vessel represents the debut of 20,000 class and above ULCVs in the Ocean Alliance's Asia Mediterranean service, with planned weekly calls at LSCT.
The occasion was also an important moment of discussion on current and future development projects implemented by the Contship Group and the AdSP of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, to make the La Spezia terminal increasingly efficient and competitive. Matteo Ferrando, Key Account Manager of Contship Italia, commented “We are excited about the consolidation of the Contship Group's partnership with Ocean Alliance and to welcome the COSCO SHIPPING Aries, a further sign of the global connectivity of our terminal. The number of ports included in the service rotation has been optimized to improve the integrity of the schedule and the efficiency of the service, touching the main ports of the Far East such as Shanghai and Singapore. This is also one of the main services that connect our terminal with the Far East and regularly calls La Spezia as the first gateway port in the Western Mediterranean, benefiting from intermodal connections to and from the main Italian destinations and southern European markets. The La Spezia terminal therefore remains at the center of our customers' flows and networks, confirming its strategic importance consolidated progressively over the years."
The President of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, Mario Sommariva, added: "The call of the COSCO SHIPPING Aries ship, 20,000 TEU and 400 meters long, represents an extremely important signal for the future of the port of La Spezia in an extremely complex international context. The choice of the Cosco Company and the Ocean Alliance represents a sign of confidence in the organizational capabilities and efficiency of our port. The prospect of new investments starting from the construction of the new Ravano terminal and the redevelopment of the railway tracks of La Spezia Marittima represent, on the basis of a consolidated relationship with the large shipping companies, the foundation of a new phase of traffic, development and work for our community"
Present to welcome the ship during the traditional crest exchange on board were Alessandro Pellegri, Chief Operating Officer of La Spezia Container Terminal, Matteo Ferrando and Peter Robino, respectively Key Account Manager of Contship Italia, Federica Montaresi, General Secretary of the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, the Chief Executive Officer of Cosco Shipping Lines, Gao Zandong, and the Operations Manager Paolo Arcidiacono.
