366-meter supership docks in Suape for the first time

The Port of Suape has set another historic record with the arrival of the MSC Orion, a New Panamax container ship measuring 366 meters long, 51 meters wide, and 16 meters draft. This makes it the largest ship ever seen in the Pernambuco dock, Brazil’s sixth busiest public port. The docking took place at the Container Terminal (Tecon Suape) late Saturday morning (27th).

“The arrival of the MSC Orion at Suape underscores the port’s strategic importance for our country, facilitating direct services between the Northeast and Asian countries via the Panama Canal. These routes will connect us to major port complexes, such as those in China and Singapore, boosting competitiveness for exporters and importers operating between the two continents,” said Marcio Guiot, CEO of the Port of Suape.

“Today, we achieved another record in our 45-year history, gaining prominence both nationally and internationally,” added Rinaldo Lira, Director of Port Development and Management. He noted that the dredging of the external channel, already completed, and the upcoming works on the internal channel and turning basin, set to begin in the coming weeks with a seven-month completion timeline, will attract even more large ships with maximum cargo capacity.

The MSC Orion’s previous stops were at the Port of Caucedo in the Dominican Republic and the Port of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. The vessel, flagged in Portugal, began transporting containerized cargo in 2020.

Previous record

Before the MSC Orion, the largest ship to dock at Suape was the APL Dublin, flagged in Singapore. The APL Dublin docked on March 11, 2023, and stayed until the 13th. Owned by CMA CGM, this container ship measures 347.29 meters in length and 45.28 meters in width, with a maximum draft of 15.5 meters and a capacity to transport 10,700 TEUs. During its operation, more than 1,500 containers were moved. The ship departed from Suape bound for the Port of Santos on the coast of São Paulo.

In July 2022, Suape, characterized by its sheltered deep-water port, received the MSC New Haven, a ship measuring 333.9 meters long with a capacity of 8,084 TEUs. The arrival of these sea giants in Suape was authorized by Ordinance 037/2021, published in the Official Gazette of Pernambuco on April 13, 2021, with approval from the Brazilian Navy.

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