• The vessel makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port.  
• The vessel’s arrival highlights Vizhinjam’s capabilities in handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs).  
• The vessel is approximately four times longer than a standard FIFA-designated football field. 
• The vessel is designed specifically to facilitate the transportation of large volumes of containers between Asia and Europe, enhancing trade routes and logistics efficiency. 

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 

About Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ)

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), a part of the globally diversified Adani Group, has successfully transformed from a port company into an Integrated Transport Utility providing end-to-end solutions from its port gate to the customer gate. It is the largest port developer and operator in India with 7 strategically located ports and terminals on the west coast and 8 on the East coast, representing 27% of the country’s total port volumes. This extensive network provides capabilities to handle vast amounts of cargo from both coastal areas and the hinterland. Beyond India, the company is developing a transshipment port at Colombo, Sri Lanka, and operates the Haifa Port in Israel and Container Terminal 2 at Dar Es Salaam Port, Tanzania, significantly enhancing its international presence. The company’s comprehensive “Ports to Logistics Platform,” encompassing port facilities, integrated logistics capabilities (including multimodal logistics parks, Grade A warehouses, and industrial economic zones), positions it advantageously as India benefits from a global supply chain overhaul. APSEZ’s vision to be the largest ports and logistics platform in the world in the next decade is unequivocally supported by its strategic capital management and the enhanced financial flexibility afforded by this extended debt tenure.