Thursday 18th February, 6a.m. PDT – The CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN is getting close to the Port of Long Beach. It is coming straight from China. The journey on the Pacific Ocean has lasted 14 days.
Captain Krpan is in charge, with 27 crew members. This giant of the sea is equipped with the latest technologies and offers everything you need to feel comfortable onboard.
7a.m. PDT – Tug pilots are getting onboard the vessel. Very precise manoeuvers are necessary as the ship is enormous (1 300 ft. long, 177 ft. wide). Everything is carefully executed, the smallest details are calculated. Two hours are necessary to dock the ship.
Journalists have been invited onboard to cover this exceptional event. Congresswoman Janice Hahn is there too. She was in Los Angeles last December in order to welcome the CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN during her maiden call. Everyone is following a guided tour and can appreciate the immensity of the vessel.
9a.m. PDT – The CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN is now docked at the Port of Long Beach. The operations went smoothly. Our “passengers” seem delighted of their visit and original experience!
The CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was inaugurated the day after, on Friday 19th February 2016, in front of 600 guests. She left Long Beach on the morning of Wednesday 24th February, heading towards the Port of Oakland, where she already called in late December 2015. To this day, she remains the largest vessel ever to call at a U.S. port.
A photo gallery of the various steps of the arrival is available on our Facebook page.
