WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina officials welcomed the largest containership to visit the Port of Wilmington.

The Hanjin Baltimore, a post-Panamax size vessel, measures 984 feet long and 140 feet wide. North Carolina Ports Authority Executive Director Paul Cozza said that’s about 63% bigger than any vessel the Port of Wilmington has had so far.

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Cozza said they are excited to show the shipping community that North Carolina, and specifically Wilmington, is capable of carrying these ships.

“This allows then for transportation to be more efficient,” Cozza said. “This allows then for the cargo community especially in the state of North Carolina to be able to receive their goods either import or export more efficiently, more cost effective.”

Cozza added that with these larger vessels there should be more goods moving through the state, which should produce more jobs and more opportunities for companies to look toward the future.

“Our state ports are an important asset for creating jobs and connecting North Carolinians to opportunities around the world,” said Governor McCrory in a press release. “This important milestone shows our commitment to supporting our ports and overall economy is paying off and keeping North Carolina globally competitive.”

“We’ve been working diligently on modernizing our ports and to see our plans come to fruition by proving that the Port of Wilmington is big ship ready is a great feeling,” Cozza said in a press release.

The Port of Wilmington said they will be prepared to handle even larger post-Panamax vessels, up to the 10,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) class, by later this summer.