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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Giant Christmas goods ship docks | Giant Christmas goods ship docks |
| (about 9 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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'." | 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 vesselThe anchor of the ship weighs 29 tonsIt can carry 11,000 20ft containersThe ship can be operated by a crew of just 13It is equipped with over 40,000 metres of pipesIts 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 | China trade |
| Paul Davey, of the Port of Felixstowe, said the size of the load reflected the increase of trade with China. | 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. | "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 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. | 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 and has previously called at Yantian in China, Hong Kong and Tanjung Pelepas, in Malaysia. | The ship is on its maiden voyage 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. | The ship will then move on to mainland Europe to deliver other containers. |