Largest ship to ever sail the Delaware River causes excitement for residents, Reddit users

Daylight saving time might’ve been at the top of your radar last weekend, but if you weren’t aware of the largest ship to sail the Delaware River that came through the area, you missed out.

6ABC reported on March 8 that the largest shipping container to ever grace the Delaware River and call port along the East Coast, Marco Polo, would dock at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia that day.

Marco Polo is said to carry more than 16,000 containers and is 1,300 feet long, about the height of the Empire State Building. Officials who spoke to 6ABC said the ship primarily carried containers of clementines from Morocco but can transport anything from fruit to furniture, and the hope is that the vessel can be used to bring goods from Asian markets to the United States.

While Marco Polo made its way to Philadelphia, escorted by the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Marine Unit, it gained some Delaware fans along the way who were excited to witness the occasion.

Two Reddit posts over the weekend shared the news about Marco Polo’s arrival, sharing photos of the ship they snapped or discussing how they could get a glimpse of the ship before it set sail for its next destination.

“When’s it going to head back down the river? Would be cool to go to Fox Point to see it,” A Reddit user commented.

“Headed back down right now actually! It was a quick turnaround unfortunately. If you hurry, you can see it as it passes New Castle,” said another commenter.

Another Reddit user, who lives near Rehoboth Beach and has a view of the ocean from their apartment, was able to capture a photo of the ship heading south to Norfolk at 5 a.m. on March 9 after it called port in Philadelphia the day before.

Marco Polo’s short time sailing the Delaware River was made possible thanks to crews spending decades deepening part of the river from 40 feet to 45 feet, a process that cost millions of dollars, according to officials who spoke to 6ABC.

Marco Polo can be tracked online and is currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia, with plans to arrive in Savannah, Georgia, on March 15.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.   

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Largest ship to sail Delaware River passed by Delaware, Reddit excited