The world’s biggest container ship has arrived (and departed) the UK for the first time

HMM Algeciras has paid the UK a fleeting visit to deliver chemical, mechanical and electrical and non-staple food products.

The 1,312ft (400m) long and 200ft (61m) wide ship delivered its variety of goods at DP World London Gateway in Thurrock.

But, it’s so large its arrival had to be modelled on a simulator to ensure it could be carried out safely.

Its journey to the UK began in China and it has also been to South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Preparations started more than six months ago, with the Port of London Authority carrying out simulator modelling, according to Sky News.

Now it’s taking UK goods back to China, via Singapore.

Peter Livey, managing director for Britain at HMM – the company that owns the vessel – says its visit to the UK is a “major milestone”.

“Ships of this size give us the capacity and flexibility to get our customers’ goods to the right place at the right time,” he says.

Two PLA pilots guided the vessel into port with London Port Control coordinating river traffic. A harbour launch was on standby as the ship went alongside.

The ship can travel at up to 12.9 knots and has a gross tonnage of 228,283. It is sailing under the flag of Panama.

“The visit by HMM Algeciras is testament to the capabilities we offer, not just at London Gateway, but at DP World Southampton, too, where her sister ship HMM Oslo is due to call later this month,” says Ernst Schulze, the chief executive officer at DP World UK.

The ground-breaking Megamax-24 ships can carry up to 24,000 containers, 200 more than the previous record, but are also considered ‘green’ because of their specially designed hulls and energy-efficient engines, according to Kent Online.