Biggest ship to ever visit East Coast calling on SC Ports

Get your cameras ready for big ship arriving Sunday morning

The biggest container ship to ever call the U.S. East Coast — the 15,072-TEU CMA CGM Brazil — is expected to sail into Charleston Harbor on Sunday.

The CMA CGM Brazil’s visit to SC Ports is very significant for the port and the state, showcasing big-ship capabilities and global competitiveness. Larger ships carry more cargo, furthering supporting businesses and jobs throughout South Carolina and the Southeast.

The CMA CGM Brazil is operated by the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics. CMA CGM is No. 1 in total U.S. combined export/import market share and employs more than 12,000 staff members in the U.S. CMA CGM serves 19 U.S. ports with 34 services and 93 weekly port calls.

“We congratulate CMA CGM on this landmark record ship. We are excited by all it represents for SC Ports and South Carolina’s economy,” SC Ports’ President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “The CMA CGM Brazil’s visit to SC Ports points to our long-term strategy of investing in port infrastructure and deepening our harbor to accommodate the large vessels visiting the East Coast.”

The CMA CGM Brazil worked its way down the East Coast, saving the deepest port for last. Charleston’s deep harbor and wide channels can seamlessly handle the loaded vessel, making Charleston the last U.S. port of call before it heads overseas. The Charleston Harbor is currently being deepened to 52 feet.

SC Ports’ efficient operations and massive ship-to-shore cranes will enable the swift movement of cargo for the CMA CGM Brazil.

“SC Ports eagerly anticipates the arrival of the 15,072-TEU CMA CGM Brazil,” SC Ports COO Barbara Melvin said. “SC Ports’ excellent operations ensure we can efficiently work vessels of this size. Our SC Ports team and the broader maritime community looks forward to welcoming the CMA CGM Brazil to Charleston.”

Track the CMA CGM Brazil

Track the vessel in real-time as it sails into Charleston. The CMA CGM Brazil is expected to arrive in the inner harbor in Charleston on Sunday morning around 9 a.m. and head to Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant.

SC Ports teammates and maritime workers will unload and load containers until the ship departs for Malaysia on Monday. These times can change, so follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for updates.

Capture the moment

SC Ports is hosting a photo contest to celebrate the CMA CGM Brazil calling on Charleston.

To participate:

• Snap a photo of the CMA CGM Brazil in Charleston.
  
• Look out for a post on our Facebook page for details on how to enter the photo contest.
  
• Be sure to tag us in your photos - @SCPorts and @cmacgm. #SCPorts #TomorrowIsHere
  
• The first-place winner will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Wando Welch Terminal. The second- and third-place winners will win a port-themed puzzle and Tervis tumbler.