MV COSCO Shipping Aries is the first vessel with a capacity of more than 20,000 standard containers, built and operated by a Chinese company. Photo: Wu Gang

Brussels (People's Daily) – The COSCO Shipping Aries arrived in Antwerp, Belgium on Tuesday, concluding the first half of its maiden voyage from Shangai, China.

The ocean transport vessel is the Chinese shipping company’s largest among its fleet at 20,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The state-of-the-art vessel represents the latest in next-generation containerships built and operated by the Chinese. 

The Belgian port was the first time Belgium’s shipping industry had set eyes on the state-of-the-art containership. 

COSCO Shipping Aries was built by Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) affiliated with COSCO SHIPPING. 

The Aries replaces their 14,000 TEU container lines. 

The latest ocean pack leader and will cover the Far East corridor and Northwest Europe Service (AEU3) routes, providing direct shipping from Northern and Eastern China while covering the Northeastern Asia gateway and extending to Northwest Europe.  

The expansion will optimize COSCO’s shipping network and container transportation capabilities.

Last month, the Aries departed Shanghai for Europe, stopping in Ningbo, Singapore, with two berths in Germany at Rotterdam and Hamburg, before arriving at Antwerp. 

On February 27, she began her return voyage to China, stopping at Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, and Shanghai, rounding out her maiden trip. 

The sea trial serves as a warmup for the Chinese shipping company as it will have a significant role in the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The Asia Europe Express (AEU3) that COSCO serves connects China, Southeast Asia, Greece and Northwest Europe. 

Increased vessel upgrades will provide more efficient and integrated transportation services for all nations and regions involved, further boosting Sino-Europe trade.