World's largest container ship MSC Irina docks at India's Vizhinjam Port, receives grand water salute - SEE PICS

MSC Irina

MSC IRINA, the world's largest container ship, docked at Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday morning. The largest vessel on planet by capacity is likely to remain berthed at the Indian port for next 24 hours, a PTI report added. A traditional water salute was accorded to MSC IRINA when the ship arrived at the port at 8 am. The docking of the largest ship in the world at an Indian port marks a key journey for country’s deepwater port ecosystem. It should be noted that this is the same port which was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month.

Proud to welcome MSC Irina, the worlds 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 Indias emergence as a key player in global pic.twitter.com/dmSGpwHQfK
Karan Adani (@AdaniKaran) June 9, 2025

Gautam Adani’s son and Adani Ports and SEZ MD Karan Adani posted photos of the ship at the port. Lauding the milestone, Adani 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 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.”

MSC IRINA: Capacity, maiden voyage route – key facts

Launched in March 2023, MSC IRINA began its maiden voyage in April of the same year. The ship has been engineered to stack containers up to 26 tiers high. As per the official data, the carrying capacity of MSC IRINA is 24,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The massive ship, which is seen as an engineering marvel, has been designed for crucial transportation between Asia and Europe.

Notably, MSC IRINA exceeds the capacity of its predecessor, OOCL Spain, by 150 TEUs.

Designed in line with modern environmental standards, the vessel incorporates energy-efficient technologies that help reduce carbon emissions by up to 4%, significantly minimizing its environmental impact while ensuring high operational efficiency.

The arrival of MSC IRINA at the Vizhinjam International Seaport highlights the port’s growing strategic relevance in global maritime trade. It also marks a significant step toward greener shipping practices, setting a new benchmark for sustainability and innovation in the industry, the official release stated.