The Hong Kong-registered CSCL Asia has a deadweight tonnage of 99,500 tons, a service speed of 25 knots, 700 reefer plugs and a nominal carrying capacity of 8,468 TEU. Her overall length is 334 metres with a width of 42,8 metres.

This vessel is one of a group of five 8,500 TEU class container ships ordered by CSCL.

CSCL, which is part of the China Shipping Group, is the fastest growing and world-leading major container shipping company, with its headquarters in Shanghai. It is principally engaged in the operation and management of international as well as domestic trade lanes and is currently ranked in the world’s top 10 largest container shipping company in terms of slot capacity.

CSCL has a young and modern fleet that comprises 114 vessels with a total operating capacity of 231,480 TEU, of which 28 of them have a capacity of over 4,000 TEU. The average age of the vessels with a capacity of more than 4,000 TEU is 1.6 years.

By 2005, CSCL will have a fleet of nearly 60 core vessels of more than 4100 TEUs’ capacity, with 5200 TEUs’ average space and 350 thousand TEUs’ total space, and will rise to stand in the top 10 of global container liners companies.

China Shipping (Malta) Agency Co. Ltd was set up earlier this year for the purpose of serving as a CSCL regional office for the Mediterranean, with the main task being that of supervising the smooth operation of CSCL containers at the Malta Freeport. The Maltese operation is owned by CSCL and locally based company Medsea Shipping Agency Ltd with offices in Msida.

The CSCL Asia will be calling at the Malta Freeport on a regular basis.