The largest-ever ship to dock at Bristol Port has arrived in time to unload its goods ahead of the festive season. The MSC Loretta, which is sailing under the flag of Panama, arrived into the dock at 10am on Thursday (December 15).
The 20-year-old vessel is 303.94 metres long, surpassing the previous record set by MSC Blandine and MSC Roberta by almost 10 metres, the Bristol Port Company said. The ship has a beam of 40 metres and was manoeuvred through the 42.7 metre-wide lock and berthed.
The MSC Loretta contained various commodities – from wine, to household items to online deliveries - and was previously docked in Liverpool, having arrived from Sines in Portugal. Before that it had made stops in Barcelona and Valencia in Spain. It is currently having its containers unloaded by workers at the port and will then be reloaded with cargo ready to export as it moves on to its next destination - Antwerp, in Belgium.
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James Stangroom, director of containers, said: “Despite the challenging economic climate, the MSC container service remains highly successful with imports coming in from around the globe. A great performance today from our Marine and Operational colleagues, in freezing conditions, to ensure the safe docking and discharge operation of the MSC Loretta.”
The Bristol Port Company was formed in 1991 when entrepreneurs Terence Mordaunt and David Ord purchased the Port of Bristol from Bristol City Council. It remains a privately owned independent business with an estate of over 2,600 acres, employing more than 7,600 people. Over £600m has been invested in Bristol since privatisation, according to the Bristol Port Company.
Last year, Bristol Port missed out on becoming a so-called freeport - designated zones where the normal tax and tariff rules of the country do not apply - with West of England leaders speaking of their "bitter disappointment" at the news, according to Bristol Live's sister site Business Live. In the South West, Plymouth was awarded freeport status instead.
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