On 12 July 2004, "CSCL Asia", the largest vessel of the China Shipping (CSCL) container fleet at 8,468 TEU, made a maiden call at Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT).
"CSCL Asia" is 334 metres in length with designed speed of 25.2 knots. The vessel, which is currently the largest vessel in the world, was launched in Korea on 8 July 2004, and started on her maiden voyage calling first at Shanghai, then Yantian. "CSCL Asia" serves an America service (AAS1) with the rotation of Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, Busan, Long Beach, Oakland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver and Shanghai.
The trend is for ocean-going vessels to be ever larger, and more and more shipping lines will deploy vessels with a shipping capacity of 8,000-plus TEU in their services. YICT enjoys excellent natural conditions and advanced operational facilities and equipment, which can meet these large vessels' requirements for water depth and facilities. Numerous shipping lines have chosen YICT as a key port of call for their large vessels.
YICT is a natural deep-water port in Southern China with water depth alongside of 14 to 16 metres and no siltation. The port has seven container berths at present. The remaining two berths of Phase III will be completed for operation soon. With existing 35 quay cranes and 134 rubber-typed gantry cranes, YICT is able to handle the world's largest container vessels efficiently.