World’s largest container ship MSC Irina docks at Vizhinjam seaport in Kerala

World’s largest container vessel MSC Irina berthing at the Vizhinjam international sea Port in Thiruvananthapuram on June 9 morning.
| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran 

The world’s largest container ship MSC IRINA made a historic debut at Vizhinjam international seaport on Monday (June 9, 2025). The vessel, which was on its maiden visit to a South Asian port, docked at the port in the morning, highlighting Vizhinjam’s capabilities in handling ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs). The MSC IRINA, billed as the world’s largest container ship by TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity, will be berthed at the port till Tuesday, according to port authorities.

This monumental arrival of the ship also marked 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.

World’s largest container vessel MSC Irina berthing at the Vizhinjam international sea Port in Thiruvananthapuram on June 9 morning.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran 

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. The ship that sails under the Liberian flag, 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 Vizhinjam port has so far facilitated the berthing of 349 ships handling 7.33 lakh containers since the port began operations on a trial basis in July, 2024 and subsequently commercial operation in December.