The 13,300 TEU CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB is one of the largest container ships currently afloat. She operates
on CMA CGM's "FAL 7" service linking the Far East with Northern Europe. She is the only CMA CGM vessel on this line, the others being Maersk's
EMMA MAERSK and her sisters, hence the large number of grey boxes on her decks.
CMA CGM CHRISTOPHE COLOMB - Vital Statistics
IMO Number:
9453559
Nationality:
French
Call Sign:
FNUY
Built:
2009
Builder:
Daewoo
Gross Tonnage:
153,022
LOA (m):
365.50
Beam (m):
51.20
Nominal TEU:
13,300
14t Homo. TEU:
9,932
Service Speed (kts):
24.3
Owner:
CMA CGM
Manager:
CMA CGM
The early hours of Sunday 21st February 2010 saw this massive vessel arrive at Felixstowe for the
first time. At a more civilised hour (and luckily after the rain had stopped) I was able to visit her and have a good look around. Below are some photos taken
from the bridge wing across the vast stacks of containers on her decks, as well as a couple showing the view down to quay level a long way below. Click on the
thumbnails to see larger images.
As darkness fell, it was time to leave the mighty vessel, but not before taking a couple of shots of the highest gangway I have ever climbed
(all 74 steps of it!) and the sides of the vessel's hull, in an attempt to capture the sheer size of her.
Below are a couple of images of the vessel while she was alongside. The first was taken on the dull Sunday afternoon, and the second the following
morning during heavy rain. Hopefully when she arrives next time I'll be able to get some better pictures...
The dismal weather was never going to stop me watching her sail from the port on Monday afternoon. Despite a bit of drizzle and a bitterly cold wind,
I watched her depart from the beach at Landguard Point. The below images show her manoeuvring and heading out to sea. The last two pictures show her in
the distance after rounding the Point, still dominating the horizon as she goes.
