VIDEO: Last stop before Seattle! Biggest cargo ship to visit North America now in Oakland

| Port of Seattle | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The Port of Oakland recorded that time-lapse video this morning as the 1,300-foot-long CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin arrived. It’s gained a lot of attention as the biggest cargo ship ever to call in North America, and it’s due to arrive here next Monday morning (February 29th). After stopping in Long Beach – where it was inaugurated last Friday – the Benjamin Franklin arrived in Oakland this morning; Port of Seattle spokesperson Peter McGraw says it’s due at Terminal 18 on Harbor Island around 7 am Monday, and will leave the next day, Tuesday (March 1st), at 8 am. No public events are planned during its stay, but the media’s been invited to a ceremony including the mayor and port reps; we plan to be there.

P.S. Other stats – besides the ship being more than twice as long as the 605-foot Space Needle is tall – it’s 177 feet wide and 197 feet high (roughly equal to a 20-story building), with its tallest antenna topping out at 230 feet.

Chris February 25, 2016 (5:52 pm)

An American Football Field is 300 ft long, quite a bit longer than the ship is wide.

WSB February 25, 2016 (5:55 pm)

Ah, maybe they meant width, not length. Will just take out the football reference. Thanks – TR
chemist February 25, 2016 (10:41 pm)

and it’s 360 ft if you include the endzones. It should be pretty impressive since clearance under the high bridge is only 140 ft.

Casey February 25, 2016 (6:08 pm)

A Untied Kingdom vessel, built in China, and owned by the French.

kumalavula February 25, 2016 (6:42 pm)

these ships are post panamax, built to accommodate the widening of the panama canal at its narrowest segment, which is called the culebra cut, near the miraflores set of locks on the pacific side of the country near panama city.

Susan February 26, 2016 (1:58 pm)

Any plan from SPD to direct truck traffic so we can avoid Truckamageddon like what happened a few years ago on westbound WS Bridge and under the bridge?

WSB February 26, 2016 (2:15 pm)

Lots of good questions – I don’t have the answers but will definitely be following up, as the preparations for this … let alone when it actually happens … are a huge story for our area. – TR

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