Port Hueneme, August 5, 2016 – Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines (WWL) company leaders and Port officials greet the Port’s first Post-Panamax ship, an occasion marking a paradigm shift in how the widened Panama Canal will bring a new class of vessels to the Port of Hueneme. This maiden voyage of the M/V Thalatta marks a new milestone to support the Port’s and its industry partners’ robust environmental agenda. Thalatta is one of newest high efficiency Roll on–Roll off (RoRo) HERO class vessels optimally designed to increase capacity and flexibility while reducing emissions.
From the top left is: Andrew Palomares, Christina Birdsey, Len Mazzella, Michael Collins, Brandon Severly, Kraig Jondle Bottom left: Commissioner Arlene Fraser, Captain Gode, Kristin Decas, KJ May
Harbor Commissioner Arlene Fraser celebrated the occasion remarking, “We are most pleased to welcome the M/V Thalatta and keep the course of advancing our Board adopted environmental framework with the introduction of ships that improve the environment, increase efficiency and bring prosperity to the constituents we serve.”
In keeping with stated WWL corporate goals targeting innovation, responsibility and sustainability, environmental impact was of paramount interest during Thalatta’s design as with all HERO sister vessels. Thalatta is fitted with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System that reduces sulphur emissions to below 0.1 per cent in compliance with ECA regulations and removes 70 per cent of particulate matter, which also significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions. Using a new scrubber based technology, the vessel generates a steam based release at berth instead of diesel exhaust, making the vessel one of the greenest in the global Ro-Ro fleet.
Like the Thermopylae, the Thalatta measures almost 200 metres long, 36.5 metres wide and features five liftable car decks which allows for multiple configurations and a wide variety of customer cargo. The new vessel can transport up to 8,000 car equivalent units. With the increased beam (width), the Post Panamax vessels carry an additional 2,000 Ro-Ro units.
Thalatta is the second in a total of eight HERO Post-Pana Panamax vessels that commenced service for WWL in 2015 the final ship will be introduced in 2017.
Thalatta’s sister ship Themis is anticipated to arrive at the Port of Hueneme this September. Post-Panamax is the new standard vessel size based on the width of new locks now open at the Panama Canal.
Kristin Decas, Port CEO stated, “We appreciate the business ethic of our customers as they strive to green their fleets and build market share for our Port, thereby achieving environmental benefit coupled with the creation of good jobs. We are proud that the high caliber customer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines calls Port Hueneme home.”
