What makes MSC Irina the world’s largest and most unique cargo ship?
The MSC Irina, the world’s largest container ship, has docked at Vizhinjam Port, Kerala, marking a historic moment for Indian shipping. Built in 2023 and flying the Liberian flag, this post-Suezmax behemoth belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and is captained by Kerala's own Willy Antony.
So, what makes the MSC Irina so special?
- Size that stuns: At 399.9 metres long and 61.3 metres wide, MSC Irina is a floating colossus—roughly the size of four football fields combined.
- Record-breaking capacity: It can carry a jaw-dropping 24,346 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units)—stacked up to 26 containers high.
- Eco-conscious engineering: Designed to emit 3–4% less carbon dioxide, it leads the way in sustainable shipping.
- Powerful fleet: The MSC fleet has 730 vessels, with a global cargo capacity of 46 million TEUs.
Quick stats at a glance
- Deadweight: 240,739 DWT
- Crew Onboard: 35
- Built By: Zhejiang Zhoushan Shipyard, China
- Sea Trials Completed: February 2023
Timeline of a giant
- Construction started: November 2021
- Dock assembly: June 2022
- First float-out: October 29, 2022
- Delivery: March 2023
Maiden voyage
From Qingdao to Busan, back to China, then Singapore, Italy and Spain via the Suez Canal, with return calls at Saudi Arabia and the UAE—MSC Irina's first voyage covers the globe.