ONE Sparkle Makes Inaugural Port Call in Ecuador

ONE Sparkle, the 13,800 TEU methanol-ready containership owned by Singapore’s maritime transportation player Ocean Network Express (ONE), recently made its inaugural port call in Ecuador.

As part of its maiden journey to Latin America, ONE Sparkle docked at Terminal Portuario de Guayaquil (TPG), operated by SAAM Terminals, solidifying the partnership between the Singaporean shipping company and TPG.

During its stop in Guayaquil, the boxship handled approximately 5,000 container moves, including close to one thousand refrigerated export containers. TPG representatives noted that the vessel has the capacity to handle nearly 2,500 refrigerated container connections.

Environmentally-Friendly Vessel

ONE Sparkle is considered a ‘new generation’ of energy-efficient, eco-friendly ships. The vessel is part of the AX3 service, linking key ports in the Pacific Ocean, with stops in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, and Panama.

Equipped with cutting-edge technologies, ONE Sparkle can operate using methanol and ammonia, as well as connect to shore power emission-reducing systems. These features align with ONE’s commitment to sustainability across its global fleet.

Expansion Plans

The Singapore-flagged ONE Sparkle is one of a series of 20 large vessels currently under construction in South Korea and Japan, with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2026. The ship is managed by OneSea Solutions, a ship management company jointly owned by ONE and Seaspan Corporation.

In addition to ONE Sparkle, Ocean Network Express is set to receive a dozen 13,000 TEU container vessels starting in 2027. These newbuilds will be powered by methanol and feature a dual-fuel propulsion system. Construction of these vessels is underway at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.