The worlds largest container ship, the CMA CGM Marco Polo, is on a Trans-Pacific visit to Europe.
Aboard the ship are 4,000 containers carrying goods destined for businesses and shops in time for Christmas.
The ship is actually severely under-loaded.
The salute is then repeated for those leaving Hamburg.
Sometimes ships enter into the spirit by dipping their flag or sounding their fog horn.
This was one such big occasion.
Its electronically controlled engine consumes an average of 3 percent less fuel and 25 percent less lub oil.
Its fuel tanks are protected by double hull to prevent oil leakage in the event of a disaster.
The hull is optimised to reduce energy consumption even further.
CMA CGM Marco Polo won’t be the biggest container ship in the world for long.
Photo credit: Spiegel
The Marco Polo at Hamburg on December 12, 2012.
Photo credit: Spiegel
The Marco Polo makes its first visit to the UK on 10th December 2012.
