World’s Largest Container Ship, MSC IRINA, Docks at Vizhinjam Port

Ahmedabad, Gujarat — The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world’s largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, docked at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning and will be berthed till Tuesday.  

This monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. 

The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximately four times longer than a standard FIFA-designated football field. Designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of large volumes of containers between Asia and Europe, the MSC IRINA is pivotal in enhancing trade routes and logistics efficiency. 

This vessel makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port, highlighting Vizhinjam’s capabilities in handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs). The port has recently welcomed other Icon-class vessels, including MSC Türkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini, further establishing its reputation as a key hub in maritime trade. 

The MSC IRINA was launched in March 2023 and embarked on its maiden voyage in April of the same year. It is engineered to stack containers up to 26 tiers high, offering unparalleled capacity in container stacking. 

Notably, the MSC IRINA surpasses its predecessor, OOCL Spain, by a margin of 150 TEUs. In alignment with contemporary environmental standards, the vessel is equipped with energy-saving features that contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 4%, significantly lowering its carbon footprint while maintaining operational efficiency. 

The docking of the MSC IRINA at Vizhinjam International Seaport not only underscores the port’s strategic importance in global shipping but also represents a leap forward in sustainable maritime practices, setting a benchmark for future developments in the industry. 

Fact box: 

MSC IRINA is the world’s largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity 

MSC IRINA’s capacity is at 24,346 TEUs 

MSC IRINA’s length is 399.9 metres and its width is 61.3 metres 

MSC IRINA’s length is around 4 times of a FIFA-designated football field 

MSC IRINA is designed to carry large volume of containers between Asia and Europe 

MSC IRINA makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port in Vizhinjam on June 9 and will remain berthed till June 10 

Vizhinjam was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2 

Vizhinjam is known for handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) 

2 other Icon-class vessels, MSC Türkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini, recently berthed at Vizhinjam 

MSC IRINA was launched in March 2023 and made its maiden voyage in April 2023 

MSC IRINA can carry over 24,346 standard 20-foot containers 

MSC IRINA can stack containers up to 26 tiers high 

MSC IRINA has surpassed OOCL Spain by 150 TEUs 

MSC IRINA achieves up to 4% reduction in carbon emissions 

MSC IRINA has energy-saving features to reduce carbon footprint