The container ship, one of the most modern in the Maersk fleet, has a capacity of 17,480 TEUs and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine prepared to use alternative fuels.

The President of the Port de Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell, presented the ship's captain with a commemorative plaque for its call at the port.

November 6, 2026

The container ship Barcelona Maersk during entry maneuvers at the Port de Barcelona.

The container ship Barcelona Maersk during entry maneuvers at the Port de Barcelona.

The container ship Barcelona Maersk made its maiden call at the Port de Barcelona on Friday, a particularly symbolic visit for a ship named after the Catalan capital. The container ship, one of the most modern in the Maersk fleet, operates on the route connecting Europe with Southeast Asia and called at the APMT Barcelona terminal to carry out container loading and unloading operations before continuing its journey to Italy, from where it will sail towards the Suez Canal on its way back to Asia.

To commemorate this first visit, the President of the Port de Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell, presented the captain of the Barcelona Maersk with a commemorative plaque. The event was also attended by Jordi Valls, Fourth Deputy Mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion and Tourism of the Barcelona City Council; Carla Salvadó, Deputy General Director and Head of Commercial and Marketing of the Port de Barcelona; Carles Mayol, Head of Container Division; Julián Fernández, General Director of APM Terminals Spanish Gateways, and Narcís Pavón, Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals Barcelona.

The vessel, with a capacity of 17,480 TEUs, was built in South Korea and entered service earlier this year. The Barcelona Maersk is part of a series of six large container ships equipped with dual-fuel engines that allow the use of green methanol, an alternative fuel that generates up to 90% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than traditional fossil fuels, equivalent to 280 tons of CO2 less per day.

This technology places the Barcelona Maersk among the new generation of ships with which the maritime sector is advancing in the decarbonization of transport. Its call in Barcelona also reinforces the port's role as a hub on the main maritime routes between Asia and Europe.

"It is a source of pride to welcome the Barcelona Maersk to the port of the city that gives it its name. And even more so because we share more than Barcelona: we share the ambition to move towards increasingly sustainable maritime transport. Maersk's objectives and those of the Port de Barcelona are fully aligned, and placing ships like the Barcelona Maersk on the routes that pass through our port contributes to us achieving them together," said José Alberto Carbonell at the commemorative plaque ceremony.