The new class of post-Panamax (PPX) shipping vessels made an inaugural visit to Florida's Port Canaveral recently.
The PPX Ro/Ro vessel MOL’s Brooklands, is the first of its kind to call on Port Canaveral. With a 125-foot beam and capacity to transport over 7,400 vehicles, MOL’s Brooklands is the largest Post-Panamax vessel to call on the Port. The ship arrived at Port Canaveral, its first U.S. port of call, following transit through the expanded locks of the Panama Canal.
“The arrival of MOL’s Brooklands here marks a new chapter for our cargo operations. Large capacity vessels choosing Port Canaveral underscores the role this Port plays in driving economic opportunities for the Central Florida region,” said Port CEO, Captain John Murray. “The megaship era in global shipping has arrived at Port Canaveral.”
MOL’s Brooklands was built in 2017, and is 199.96 meters (656 feet) in length with a beam of 38 meters (125 feet) wide. The massive car carrier, with a 72,700 GWT, discharged 315 new vehicles from Mexico at the AutoPort Canaveral, LLC facility at Port Canaveral before departing to Jacksonville, Fla.
The recently completed six-month deepening project of Port Canaveral’s West Turning Basin provides deeper draft vessel access equal to the authorized Port channel depth of 44 feet.