World's largest container ship MSC IRINA docks at Vizhinjam port

The MSC IRINA, currently the world's largest container ship by capacity, arrived at the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvanathpuram, port officials said. The vessel is expected to remain berthed until Tuesday.The vessel arrived at Vizhinjam at 8 am on Monday, receiving a traditional water salute on arrival. MSC IRINA boasts of an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), 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.Karan Adani, the managing director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), wrote on X, "Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world's largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port.

Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the world’s largest container ship with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, to our Vizhinjam Port. This marks the vessel's maiden visit to South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India’s emergence as a key player in global… pic.twitter.com/dmSGpwHQfK

— Karan Adani (@AdaniKaran) June 9, 2025

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. Designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of large volumes of containers between Asia and Europe, MSC IRINA is pivotal in enhancing trade routes and logistics efficiency.
Vizhinjam’s location, at the centre of the Indian coastline and close to key trade routes, is what gives it an edge over older Indian ports. Its docking at Vizhinjam signals growing confidence in the port’s readiness to handle Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), and more importantly, its potential to emerge as a transshipment hub capable of competing with Colombo, Singapore and Dubai.The natural depth of the waters off Vizhinjam Port - ranging between 18 to 20 metres even up to a kilometre from the shore - makes it suitable for very large vessels, including massive tankers and mother ships. In May, the port welcomed Turkiye, the world's largest eco-friendly container ship operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, cementing Vizhinjam's position as a key deepwater hub on India's coastline.