On March 19, 2024, Cosco Shipping's container vessel Aries will dock at the Port of Genoa, marking a significant event as the first 20,000 TEU ship of the Chinese company to reach the Ligurian port, with more vessels from the Asia-Mediterranean AEM1 service set to follow. This introduction of the Aries represents a notable milestone, as it will be the first of four ultra-large 20,000 TEU units to join the Asia-Mediterranean AEM1 service. Cosco Shipping thus claims the distinction of being “the first shipping company to regularly call at the Ligurian port with 20,000 TEU vessels.” The AEM1 service route includes stops at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Yantian, Singapore, Piraeus, La Spezia, Genoa, Fos, Valencia, back to Piraeus, Singapore and Qingdao.
In a parallel development, Cosco Shipping is enhancing safety measures by equipping its ships with Iridium's Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) terminals. The first ship fitted with the Lars Thrane LT-3100S terminal is the car carrier Cosco Tengfei. This equipment enables the use of Iridium telecommunications services, known for their global coverage, including polar waters. This feature is particularly beneficial as Cosco shows an increasing interest in operating in the Arctic Ocean.
