Thiruvananthapuram, 9 June

The MSC IRINA, currently the world's largest container ship by capacity, arrived at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning, port officials said.

The vessel, with a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres-- approximately four times longer than a standard FIFA-designated football pitch -- is expected to remain berthed until Tuesday.

The vessel arrived at Vizhinjam at 8 am on Monday, receiving a traditional water salute on arrival.

The arrival of the MSC IRINA marks a major step forward for the new deepwater port, which was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 May.

With a carrying capacity of 24,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), the massive ship is a striking symbol of the growing scale of global trade and India's rising role in it.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed the arrival of MSC IRINA at Vizhinjam International Seaport as a proud and historic moment for the state.

"Kerala welcomes MSC IRINA, the largest container ship to call at any South Asian port, with immense pride," he said in a post on X.

"Measuring 399.9m in length and 61.3m in width, with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, her arrival at @PortOfVizhinjam marks a historic moment. A proud milestone that underscores our port's strategic global role and galvanises our collective dream of growth," Vijayan said.

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, according to a port release.

This vessel makes its maiden visit to a South Asian port, highlighting Vizhinjam's capabilities in handling Ultra-Large Container Vessels (ULCVs), it said. 

In a post on X, Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani ports and SEZ Ltd, said, "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 the South Asian shores, making it a milestone not just for Vizhinjam but for India's emergence as a key player in global transshipment. A bold vision now in motion."

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 per cent, significantly lowering its carbon footprint while maintaining operational efficiency.