Mammoth vessel opens a new era in shipping

The largest cargo container ship to ever dock in the Americas made a fog-shrouded first voyage into the Port of Long Beach, sending a message to competitors that Southern California can handle the giant vessels most others can't welcome for at least two more years.

The Fabiola is one of a new generation of vessels that can carry 11,000 or more containers, favored by ocean cargo lines because packing more freight boxes onto each ship lowers costs.

"She's way beyond our previous record for size," said Dick McKenna, executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California. "This is quite a significant jump for us."

The Fabiola, owned by Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., can carry 12,500 containers. The ship is 30 feet shorter than the Empire State Building is tall, as wide as a 10-lane freeway and big enough to carry the contents of eight 1-million-square-foot warehouses.