The world of container shipping is a never-ending race to build bigger, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly vessels. And right now, the undisputed champion is MSC Irina—a true giant of the seas. Operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the Irina is officially the largest container ship in the world, boasting an unbelievable capacity of 24,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
But what does that actually mean? Let’s break it down and see just how vast this ship is, why it matters, and what it means for ports like Felixstowe.
Bigger Than Ever: The Numbers Behind MSC Irina
The MSC Irina measures a colossal 399.99 metres in length—that’s just one centimetre shy of 400 metres (or about four football pitches end-to-end). The beam (width) comes in at 61.3 metres, making it one of the widest ships afloat. Its gross tonnage is over 240,000 tonnes, meaning it can carry an almost incomprehensible amount of cargo across the world’s oceans.
To put this in perspective:
If you stood the MSC Irina on its end, it would be taller than the Empire State Building (381 metres).
It is twice the length of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
The deck space alone is large enough to park over 3,000 cars side by side.
And then there’s the all-important TEU capacity—24,346 containers. That’s over 150 TEUs more than its nearest rival, the OOCL Spain, making it officially the largest container ship ever built.
How Many Bananas Can You Fit on MSC Irina? 🍌
We’ve all heard of shipping capacity described in terms of bananas—so let’s do the maths.
A standard 20-foot container can hold about 48,000 bananas. With 24,346 TEUs, MSC Irina could transport around 1.17 billion bananas in a single trip.
And that’s just bananas! MSC Irina is more likely to be carrying electronics, clothing, machinery, and raw materials—but this gives you a sense of scale.
The Powerhouse of Global Trade
Shipping is the lifeblood of international trade, with over 90% of the world’s goods transported by sea. The reason ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) like MSC Irina are getting bigger is simple: efficiency.
Bigger ships = fewer voyages = lower costs per container = cheaper goods for everyone.
Here’s why ships like MSC Irina are game-changers:
✅ Lower cost per container – By carrying more in one go, it reduces shipping costs for businesses and, ultimately, consumers.
✅ Fewer emissions per TEU – Larger ships mean less CO₂ per container, making global trade more sustainable.
✅ Better supply chain resilience – With more goods on fewer ships, the risk of supply chain disruptions is reduced.
However, there’s a flip side to these giant ships. Not all ports are equipped to handle them, and congestion at major hubs is becoming a serious problem.
How Felixstowe is Adapting for Giants Like MSC Irina
As the UK’s busiest container port, Felixstowe is a crucial gateway for trade—but can it handle the world’s largest ship?
Felixstowe has been investing heavily to accommodate ULCVs like MSC Irina, including:
Dredging to deepen berths, allowing larger ships to dock.
Giant ship-to-shore cranes, capable of reaching across the width of these mammoth vessels.
Automated stacking systems, speeding up loading and unloading times.
The arrival of ships like MSC Irina at Felixstowe highlights the port’s strategic importance. As global trade continues to grow, Felixstowe must remain competitive, or risk losing out to larger European ports like Rotterdam and Hamburg.
What’s Next? Are Even Bigger Ships Coming?
It’s hard to imagine, but ships like MSC Irina won’t hold the title for long. Shipbuilders are already designing the next generation of 25,000+ TEU vessels. Some experts predict that by 2030, we could see ships carrying 30,000 TEUs or more.
But there are challenges:
Port capacity – Not all ports can handle these giants, and the investment needed is huge.
Infrastructure limits – Bridges, canals, and docks were built for smaller ships. Even the Suez and Panama Canals have had to expand.
Efficiency trade-offs – At some point, bigger doesn’t always mean better. Longer loading times and logistical bottlenecks could reduce efficiency rather than improve it.
Still, for now, MSC Irina is the undisputed king of container shipping. Its arrival marks a new era of global trade, one where ships are bigger, trade routes are more vital, and ports like Felixstowe must adapt or be left behind.
Felixstowe—and the UK—must be ready for this new era of mega-ships. If we get it right, the UK will remain a vital link in the world’s supply chain. If not, we risk falling behind in the race to handle the world’s largest vessels.
One thing is certain:
🚢 Ships like MSC Irina are here to stay. And they’re only going to get bigger.