MSC Türkiye, recognised as one of the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient container ships, made its inaugural call at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala, on Wednesday.
The port authorities said this significant event marks the first time this colossal vessel has navigated the waters of South Asia.
Operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), MSC Türkiye is hailed as a marvel of modern engineering.
The 2023-built cargo ship measures 399.9 metres in length, 61.3 metrse in width, and 33.5 metres in depth.
With a remarkable capacity to carry approximately 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), it ranks among the largest container ships ever constructed.
The Vizhinjam International Seaport, managed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), is India’s first mega transhipment container terminal.
This state-of-the-art port is strategically situated as the only transhipment hub in the Indian subcontinent.
It is closest to vital international shipping routes and centrally located along the Indian coastline.
Notably, it lies a mere 10 nautical miles (about 19km) from the bustling east-west shipping channel that interlinks Europe, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and the Far East.
The MSC Türkiye, which sails under the flag of Liberia, is particularly distinguished for its eco-friendly design.
It features one of the lowest carbon footprints per container carried, alongside a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions associated with each transport.
Last September, the MSC Claude Girardet, another ultra-large container vessel from the MSC fleet, made history by docking at the Vizhinjam seaport.