India's First Deep Sea Port Vizhinjam Welcomes World's Largest Container Ship

(MENAFN- KNN India) Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 10 (KNN) The world's largest container ship, MSC Irina, arrived at Vizhinjam International Port on Monday, marking its inaugural visit to the South Asian port facility.

The vessel was welcomed with a traditional water salute ceremony upon its arrival and is scheduled to remain at the port until Tuesday.

MSC Irina holds the distinction of being the world's largest container vessel based on TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity.

The ship boasts a capacity of 24,346 TEU, establishing it as a major player in global shipping operations. With dimensions of 399.9 meters in length and 61.3 meters in width, the vessel is approximately four times longer than a FIFA football field.

The container ship was specifically designed for large-scale cargo transportation between Asia and Europe.

MSC Irina was launched in March 2023, with its maiden voyage commencing in April of the same year. Operating under the Liberian flag, the vessel is engineered to stack containers up to 26 tiers high, providing exceptional container stacking capabilities.

Vizhinjam International Port, constructed by the Adani Group, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2.

The facility has recently welcomed other prestigious vessels, including MSC Turkiye and MSC Michel Capellini, establishing itself as a significant hub in maritime trade operations.

Kerala Chief Minister P. Vijayan described the arrival of MSC Irina as a historic moment, stating that the vessel's presence demonstrates the port's strategic global role.

Karan Adani, Managing Director, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, also characterised the event as historic, highlighting the significance of this development for the port's operations and India's maritime infrastructure.

(KNN Bureau)

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