HMM Algeciras, the world's largest container ship with a loading capacity of 24,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), set out on its maiden voyage from Qingdao Port, a branch of Shandong Port Group, on April 26.

Recently launched in South Korea, it is the first of 12 ships with a TEU capacity of 24,000 and belongs to Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), the world's 14th largest container ship company in terms of vessel capacity.

A ceremony is held to celebrate the maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras at the Qingdao Port. [Photo by Lan Wenpeng/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The vessel measures 399.9 meters long, 61.03 meters in beam length and 33.2 meters tall, and has an intended capacity of 23,964 containers. It has a deck area of more than 24,000 square meters, about the size of nearly four standard football fields, said Zhang Jun, deputy general manager of the Qingdao Qianwan United Container Terminal Co Ltd.

The HMM Algeciras can carry some 200 more containers than the previous largest container ship, Zhang added. When fully loaded, all 24,000 containers, if connected end to end, would reach a total length of 150 kilometers.

The empty ship arrived at Qingdao Port in the early morning of April 26 and sailed for Busan several hours later carrying 4,560 TEUs of chemical, mechanical and electrical supplies as well as non-staple food products.

The container ship's port rotation also includes Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Suez Canal, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp and London.

Aerial photo taken on April 26, 2020 shows HMM Algeciras docking at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo by Lan Wenpeng/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread overseas, China's foreign trade slowed in the first quarter of the year. According to customs data, Shandong's foreign trade in the first quarter totaled 446.75 billion yuan ($63.19 billion), down 3.6 percent year-on-year.

Ports and shipping companies around the world have also been hit hard, with 435 voyages suspended.

As a result, investing in larger ships with higher capacities is unnecessary.

Lee Joo Myung, chairman of Hyundai Merchant Marine (China) Co Ltd, responded that "We are confident in China's economy, in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Shandong market, as well as the quality service and efficiency of Shandong Port Group."

Despite the decline in its overall foreign trade, China reported a 3.2 percent growth year-on-year in trade with Belt and Road countries in the first quarter, while Shandong's imports and exports to Belt and Road countries reached 145.4 billion yuan, up 12 percent year on year.

The growth of high-tech industries and the medical industry despite the weak global economy undoubtedly inspired confidence tin Shandong Port Group and its partners, said Li Fengli, general manager of Shandong Port Group.

Shandong Port Group was established in August 2019. It makes use of major port facilities in Shandong province, including ports in Qingdao, Yantai, Rizhao, and Bohai Bay to optimize resources and reduce unnecessary competition, in a bid to play a bigger role in the Belt and Road Initiative and expand its operations into the country's inland areas.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

HMM Algeciras departs from Qingdao Port. [Photo by Hou Fangchao/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]