Maersk hasn’t said where it will use its giant new ships, but maritime authorities expect they will initially be used in the trade between Europe and Asia.
Tacoma port commissioners have approved a contract for design work to equip one of its container terminals to handle the biggest container ships now envisioned.
The Port of Tacoma publicly says it is simply updating its Husky Terminal to keep up with technological developments. The cranes now available at that terminal have a reach of 16 to 18 containers wide.
Port insiders say the port is actively courting Maersk to return to Tacoma from Seattle. Maersk was a longtime Tacoma tenant until it left two years ago to join its alliance partner, the French container line CMA CGM.