China, Spain, Switzerland, Liberia, South Korea, Singapore, and Italy connected by MSC Irina, the colossal maritime powerhouse redefining global freight movement

Published on March 1, 2025

China, Spain, Switzerland, Liberia, South Korea, Singapore, and Italy unite through MSC Irina, the record-breaking mega ship revolutionizing global freight transport.

A maritime titan has taken to the seas—the MSC Irina, a colossal container ship commissioned by a Chinese financial institution, is redefining shipping with its staggering scale. Weighing over 200,000 gross tonnes, this floating behemoth rivals the mass of approximately 250,000 automobiles and spans a length equivalent to three football fields.

Setting a new benchmark in container shipping, the MSC Irina boasts a twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity of 24,346, surpassing all previous records. As the largest vessel of its kind, it is currently navigating toward the port of Valencia, Spain, moving at a steady 6.7 knots. It is expected to dock on March 3.

Built for the Future: Engineering Marvel from Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group

Manufactured in China by the Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, the MSC Irina is the first of six vessels commissioned under a $600 million agreement. Officially launched in 2023, it sails under the Liberian flag and features cutting-edge design elements aimed at efficiency. With an ability to stack containers up to 26 units high, this ship is optimized for maximum capacity while maintaining fuel efficiency. Impressively, despite its vast size, it emits 3-4% less carbon than comparable ships.

Construction on the MSC Irina began in November 2021, with dock assembly taking shape by mid-2022. It was first launched on August 10 and floated out on October 29 before undergoing extensive sea trials in February 2023. Following its completion at the Zhejiang Zhoushan Shipyard, the ship was delivered in early March of that year.

A Global Voyage Connecting Key Trade Hubs

The MSC Irina’s maiden journey takes it across crucial global trade routes. Departing from Qingdao, it stops in Busan, South Korea, before returning to Chinese ports, then sails on to Singapore, Italy, and Spain via the Suez Canal. Its return voyage includes key ports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing MSC’s dominance in global shipping logistics.

A Record-Breaking Addition to the MSC Fleet

With a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 240,000 and precise dimensions of 399.9 meters (1,312 feet) in length and 61.3 meters (201.1 feet) in width, the MSC Irina’s size is comparable to other massive cargo vessels. However, its capacity outstrips the previous record-holder, OOCL Spain, by over 150 TEU, cementing its place at the top of the industry.

As part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the MSC Irina joins an extensive fleet of 730 ships, which collectively carry around 4.6 million TEU. With 675 offices in 155 countries and more than 260 trade routes worldwide, MSC continues to dominate the shipping sector, moving an impressive 23 million TEU annually.

With its groundbreaking design, record-breaking capacity, and global reach, the MSC Irina is poised to redefine modern container shipping, setting a new standard for the future of maritime logistics.