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Letter to the editor: 50,000 teu vessels are possible

Letter to the editor: 50,000 teu vessels are possible
Fifty thousand teu vessels are not out of the question, writes reader Paul Polinger, in response to the article – McKinsey 50,000 teu megaship forecast dismissed as insane.

Look for vessel-to-vessel container transfer in sheltered waters with depths around 66 feet. Then smaller connector vessels will service a number of coastal ports which maintain drafts around 40 feet thus positioning the container closer to its destination "door" at the same time reducing landside congestion. Either cranes on barges or cranes on the large vessel will make the transfer.

Well, maybe this won't happen tomorrow morning but for sure it will happen during the next three years. It appears now to be more of a question of the precise positioning of the spreader than one of compensating the hulls for moderate waves.

Paul Polinger

Washington DC