This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/6117080.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Giant Christmas goods ship docks | Giant Christmas goods ship docks |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A ship said to be the world's largest container vessel has arrived in a Suffolk port to unload 45,000 tonnes of Christmas goods from China. | |
| Hundreds of spectators lined the shore to watch the Emma Maersk as it was guided into Felixstowe by three tugs. | Hundreds of spectators lined the shore to watch the Emma Maersk as it was guided into Felixstowe by three tugs. |
| The ship is a quarter of a mile long, 200ft high and as wide as a motorway. | The ship is a quarter of a mile long, 200ft high and as wide as a motorway. |
| Its cargo of toys, books, computers, Christmas crackers, decorations and food, are bound for Britain and mainland Europe. | |
| The vessel's master, Henrik Solmer, expressed pride at being the first person to take charge of it and said he was often hailed by other ships that it passed. | |
| Environmental fears | |
| Mr Solmer said: "They say, 'Hey, we heard about you and it is nice to see you coming. You are beautiful and it is a nice speed that you are doing'." | |
| EMMA MAERSK FACTS The ship is a PS-class vessel The anchor of the ship weighs 29 tons It can carry 11,000 20ft containers The ship can be operated by a crew of just 13 It is equipped with over 40,000 metres of pipes Its accommodation and bridge are as high as a 12-storey building | |
| But campaigners have warned of the environmental damage such giant ships could cause. | But campaigners have warned of the environmental damage such giant ships could cause. |
| "The environmental costs of long-distance trade need to be properly taken into account," said Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South East England. | "The environmental costs of long-distance trade need to be properly taken into account," said Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South East England. |
| "We must manage international trade in a way which is socially and environmentally sustainable, working towards global agreement on a raft of measures such as taxation on fuel and import tariffs designed to support home-grown businesses. | "We must manage international trade in a way which is socially and environmentally sustainable, working towards global agreement on a raft of measures such as taxation on fuel and import tariffs designed to support home-grown businesses. |
| "This will help offset the environmental damage caused by ships like the Emma Maersk plying international waters filled with MP3 players and plastic toys." | "This will help offset the environmental damage caused by ships like the Emma Maersk plying international waters filled with MP3 players and plastic toys." |
| China trade | |
| Paul Davey, of the Port of Felixstowe, said the size of the load reflected the increase of trade with China. | |
| "This year alone we have seen a 16% increase in the volume of goods coming in from China. | |
| "The year before that it was 24%, so it is continuing at a considerable pace of increase," he said. | |
| The ship's Danish owner, Maersk Line, said the Emma Maersk was "one of the most environmentally friendly" container-vessels built. | |
| On its website it says the ship is the largest container vessel in the world. | On its website it says the ship is the largest container vessel in the world. |
| The ship is on its maiden voyage bound for Gothenburg, in Sweden, and has previously called at Yantian in China, Hong Kong and Tanjung Pelepas, in Malaysia. | |
| A total of 3,000 containers are being unloaded in the Suffolk port. | A total of 3,000 containers are being unloaded in the Suffolk port. |
| The ship will then move on to mainland Europe to deliver other containers. |