Giant of the sea: The 8,500 TEU CSCL Asia - the world's largest super-carrier - prepares to set out on its maiden voyage from Hong Kong, Asia's world city.

The world's largest full container vessel, the super-carrier CSCL-Asia, has celebrated the start of its maiden voyage from Hong Kong.

China Shipping Container Lines Company Limited owns the vessel, which has a capacity of approximately 8,500 TEUs - or twenty-foot equivalent units.

Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip said the choice of Hong Kong for its launch demonstrated Hong Kong's port facilities and container terminals could handle the largest container ships in the world.

At today's ceremony at the Hongkong International Terminals in Kwai Chung, Mr Ip welcomed CSCL's decision to register the super-carrier  with the Hong Kong Shipping Register. The CSCL-Asia was the first of five 8,500 TEU container vessels CSCL has ordered, along with eight 9,600 TEU mega vessels that would start operating in the next few years. He hoped CSCL would include these new vessels on the register, also.

Hong Kong continues to attract top quality tonnage, Mr Ip said, noting its throughput had expanded from 9.3 million tonnes in 1999 to 24 million tonnes at present.

Port facilities, ship security enhanced

In response to media enquiries, Mr Ip said the security of our port facilities and ships had been enhanced to prevent terrorist activities.

As a leading international hub port, Hong Kong complies with the international security requirements as enshrined in the International Ship & Port Facility Security Code which had been implemented on July 1.