The recently completed CMA CGM HERODOTE is employed on CMA CGM's weekly service between Europe and North Brazil & French Guyana. She
operates alongside sister vessels CMA CGM HOMERE, CMA CGM ARISTOTE and CMA CGM PLATON. On June 25th
2007 she was officially christened at the City Cruise Terminal in Southampton. As she was to call at her regular UK port, Tilbury beforehand I saw a rare
opportunity to sail with a deep sea container ship between my two "home" ports. Fortunately, my luck was in and I was given the green light to join the
vessel. Click on the photos below to view larger images.
CMA CGM HERODOTE - Vital Statistics
IMO Number:
9360142
Nationality:
UK
Built:
2007
Builder:
Hyundai
Gross Tonnage:
17,594
LOA (m):
170.00
Beam (m):
27.20
Nominal TEU:
1,691
Service Speed:
21 knots
Owner:
CMA CGM
Manager:
CMA CGM
On the evening of Friday 22nd June, MSC MIA SUMMER (right) sailed from Tilbury as I waited on the landing stage
for CMA CGM HERODOTE (below) to arrive. It was one of the few sunny days of 2007, and the vessel with her decks dressed in new CMA CGM containers looked
very impressive as she passed close to shore with the tugs ADSTEAM REDBRIDGE and ADSTEAM TRIMLEY on her starboard side, keeping her clear of an outbound RoRo vessel.
As CMA CGM HERODOTE pulled away from the lower berth at Northfleet Hope Container Terminal shortly after 0500hrs on Saturday morning, I got
a fine view of the port of Tilbury and the surrounding area. The MONTE OLIVIA was still alongside on the upper berth, and the
chimneys of the Northfleet cement works loomed ahead of us.
As we approached Gravesend, we passed the inward bound LARS MAERSK.....
The first landmark of particular interest that we passed was the site of the former Shell Haven oil refinery on which will, in a few years' time
be built one of the UK's largest deep sea container terminals. The jetties in the below panorama will soon be removed and substantial land reclamation
will provide the quay of a terminal capable of handling the world's largest container ships. A vast distribution park will be constructed on the brownfield site beyond.
Further out in the estuary we passed the historic Shivering Sands Forts (left) and Knock John Fort
(right) which were constructed during the second world war.
We reached the North East Spit pilot station shortly before 0930hrs where our pilot disembarked and the launch, ESTUARY WARDEN sped off towards the Kent coast.
After passing the cement carrier CEMFJORD which was bound for Tilbury, I took a nap for an hour or two, waking again shortly before
we passed the VARNE light vessel. As the weather improved, I took the opportunity to get some photographs from the bridge, across the decks of our vessel.
As we headed through the English Channel towards Southampton, a variety of vessels accompanied us, but few were close enough to photograph. I spent
much of the time on the bridge, identifying our "neighbours" on the ECDIS monitor. For the best part of an hour we were in a six abreast row of vessels
all heading in roughly parallel directions, albeit at different speeds. One vessel stood out from the others; a huge black vector on the screen doing
almost 25 knots was the BERLIN EXPRESS that was also heading for Southampton and which eventually overtook us. Soon after, I was advised that we would
have to anchor off the Isle of Wight for a few hours that evening before our pilot boarded (dashing my hopes of a daylight passage through the Solent). Our speed was then
reduced to save fuel which enabled some of the smaller vessels to catch up with us. Those within camera range included the tanker TURCHESE and the VERITAS,
the latter with an impressive deck cargo of wind turbine blades. CMA CGM HERODOTE eventually berthed on 101 Berth in Southampton at around 0100hrs on
Sunday 24th, and preparations later began for what turned out to be a very successful christening ceremony the following day. My last photograph was taken in Southampton on the Sunday morning and shows
Mayflower Park (an excellent location for watching vessels manoeuvring to and from the Western Docks and the container
terminal) beyond the rows of boxes stacked on our ship. In the distance, the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is alongside, and in the centre, pontoons are already being
installed for the Southampton Boat Show.
I would like to thank the Master of CMA CGM HERODOTE and those in CMA CGM Marseille who made it possible for me to join the vessel
for this short voyage. It was a truly fantastic experience that I will never forget.
