Press Release -  1.25.2001

M/V HUAL Trove Calls in Wilmington

HUAL North America and the Port of Wilmington Delaware are celebrating the arrival of M/V HUAL Trove, a new HUAL roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ship, to the Port of Wilmington on her Maiden Voyage.  This state of the art vessel will help accommodate the growing demand for exports of General Motors and Ford vehicles overseas, and strengthen the position of Wilmington, Delaware as a regional distribution center for the auto trade.
On Monday, January 29th, HUAL and Port of Wilmington officials will welcome the M/V HUAL Trove on her maiden voyage with a plaque presentation ceremony on board the vessel, followed by tour of the vessel.  The M/V HUAL Trove was built at the Tsuneishi Shipyard in Japan.  She has a total capacity for 6,250 cars, in four adjustable decks, and a ramp capacity of 150 metric ton.  She is 199.9 meters long, and 32.36 meters wide, with service speed of 20.7 knots.  The Master of the vessel, Captain Ksiazkiewicz, operates her with only 22 crewmembers.  The HUAL Trove is the last of five specially made new generation vessels which HUAL had built and delivered in the past 18 months, in an effort to increase the capacity of its auto carrier fleet.  The vessels will rotate serving the route from the US East Coast to Mediterranean ports, through the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Ford and GM vehicles destined to the Middle East roll onto the M/V HUAL Trove at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware
The M/V HUAL Trove sailed on her maiden voyage at full capacity, carrying new and used vehicles and heavy equipment.  On this voyage she picked up cars in Japan, continued through the Panama Canal, and discharged vehicles in Puerto Rico and the U.S East Coast in Jacksonville, Norfolk, and New York.  She will also load cargo in NY/NJ, Baltimore, Wilmington, DE and Jacksonville.  In her call in Wilmington, she will load more than 700 GM and 1,100 Ford vehicles, as well as various heavy equipment vehicles.  After departing the US, the M/V HUAL Trove will discharge in the Middle East and return to the Far East. 

The Port of Wilmington has been a successful import/export automobile and RoRo port for the past 25 years.  In 2000, more than 125,000 import/export vehicles crossed Wilmington’s docks, for Volkswagen, Audi, General Motors, Ford and number of commercial accounts.  Over the past years the Port of Wilmington has accommodated a growing number of automobile vessels and increasing volumes of cargo.  This growth lead the Port to a decision to construct a dedicated automobile berth on the Delaware River.  The new automobile berth will further improve the quality of the Port’s auto and RoRo facilities, and strengthen Wilmington’s position as a key auto distribution hub on the US East Coast.  As of January 2001, the design and permitting phase of the auto berth project is at 90 percent completion, and final completion of the project is scheduled for summer 2002.

Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is an important asset for the local and regional economy, generating over 4,900 jobs and contributing over $16 million in annual tax revenues to State and local government.  The Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware.  For further information, digital photos, free tours of the Port and free speakers contact: Vered Nohi-Becker, Marketing Services Manager at the Port of Wilmington @ (302) 472-7819, e-mail: vnbecker@port.state.de.us