Here’s a style tip for those who track ships: magenta is the new black. A 1,036-foot-long, cherry blossom magenta-colored container ship arrives next week at the Port of Oakland. Called the ONE Competence, it’s the newly branded symbol of Japan’s recently consolidated container shipping lines.
The ship is scheduled to arrive at Oakland’s TraPac marine terminal Monday at 7 a.m. It should be easy to spot. It’ll be the only one without a black or grey hull.
“It will be a glorious sight,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We’ve been welcoming the Japanese fleet to Oakland for years but this will be an eye-popper – a reminder that things are changing in our industry.”
The ONE Competence is part of the Ocean Network Express, or ONE. The shipping line began service in April following the merger of Japan’s three legacy carriers – K Line, MOL and NYK. It’s one of the largest shipping lines by volume at the Port of Oakland.
The vessel arriving next week is one of the first with a magenta hull. The color represents a cherry blossom tree, symbol of Japanese spring. ONE said it plans to brand more of its 240 vessels with the vibrant hue.
The ONE Competence can carry more than 8,000 20-foot containers. It’s coming to Oakland after a call in Long Beach. It departs Tuesday for Hong Kong.
