This is a list of container ships with a capacity larger than 20,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).
Container ships have been built in increasingly larger sizes to take advantage of economies of scale and reduce expense as part of intermodal freight transport. Container ships are also subject to certain limitations in size. Primarily, these are the availability of sufficiently large main engines and the availability of a sufficient number of ports and terminals prepared and equipped to handle ultra-large container ships. Furthermore, some of the world's main waterways such as the Suez Canal and Singapore Strait restrict the maximum dimensions of a ship that can pass through them.
In 2016, Prokopowicz and Berg-Andreassen defined a container ship with a capacity of 10,000 to 20,000 TEU as a Very Large Container Ship (VLCS), and one with a capacity greater than 20,000 TEU as an Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS).[1]
In August 2021, the record for most containers loaded onto a single ship is held by the Ever Ace, which carried a total of 21,710 TEU of containers from Yantian to Europe.[2]
In June 2022, the record for the largest container ship is held by the Ever Alot built by CSSC, with a capacity of 24,004 TEU.[3]
As of March 2023, the record for the largest container ship is held by the MSC Irina and MSC Loreto both built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, with the capacity of 24,346 TEU.
# | Built | Name | Length overall | Beam | Maximum TEU | GT | Operator | Flag | Image | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(m) | (ft) | (m) | (ft) | |||||||||
1 | 2023 | MSC Irina | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201.1 | 24,346 | 233,328 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[4][5] | |
2023 | MSC Loreto | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201.1 | 24,346 | 233,328 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[4][6] | ||
2 | 2023 | OOCL Spain | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201.1 | 24,188 | 235,341 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
[7][8] | |
3 | 2023 | MSC Tessa | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,116 | 230,757 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[9][10] | |
2023 | MSC Celestino Maresca | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,116 | 230,757 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[11][12] | ||
2023 | MSC Gemma | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,116 | 230,757 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[13] | ||
4 | 2022 | Ever Alot | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,004 | 236,228 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
[14] | |
2022 | Ever Aria | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,004 | 236,228 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
[15] | ||
2022 | Ever Atop | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 24,004 | 236,228 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
[16] | ||
5 | 2021 | Ever Ace | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
![]() |
[17][18] |
2021 | Ever Act | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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||
2021 | Ever Aim | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
|||
2021 | Ever Alp | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
|||
2022 | Ever Arm | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
|||
2022 | Ever Art | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,992 | 235,579 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
|||
6 | 2020 | HMM Algeciras | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[19][20][21] |
2020 | HMM Copenhagen | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] | |
2020 | HMM Dublin | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] | |
2020 | HMM Gdansk | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] | |
2020 | HMM Hamburg | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
[20] | ||
2020 | HMM Helsinki | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
[20] | ||
2020 | HMM Le Havre | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,964 | 228,283 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
[20] | ||
7 | 2020 | HMM Oslo | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,820 | 232,311 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] |
2020 | HMM Rotterdam | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,820 | 232,311 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] | |
2020 | HMM Southampton | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,820 | 232,311 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
[20] | ||
2020 | HMM Stockholm | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,820 | 232,311 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
![]() |
[20] | |
2020 | HMM St Petersburg | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,820 | 232,311 | HMM (South Korea) | ![]() |
[20] | ||
8 | 2019 | MSC Gülsün | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
![]() |
[22] |
2019 | MSC Samar | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
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[23] | |
2019 | MSC Leni | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
![]() |
[24] | |
2019 | MSC Mia | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[25] | ||
2019 | MSC Febe | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[26] | ||
2020 | MSC Ambra | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.5 | 202 | 23,756 | 232,618 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[27] | ||
9 | 2019 | MSC Mina | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,741 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[28] | |
2019 | MSC Isabella | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,741 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
![]() |
[29] | |
2019 | MSC Arina | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,741 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
![]() |
[30] | |
2019 | MSC Nela | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,741 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
![]() |
[31] | |
2019 | MSC Sixin | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,741 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[32] | ||
2021 | MSC Apolline | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,786 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[33] | ||
2021 | MSC Amelia | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,786 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[34] | ||
2021 | MSC Diletta | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,786 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[35] | ||
2021 | MSC Michelle | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,786 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[36] | ||
2021 | MSC Allegra | 399.8 | 1,312 | 61.0 | 200.1 | 23,656 | 228,786 | MSC (Switzerland) | ![]() |
[37] | ||
10 | 2020 | CMA CGM Jacques Saadé | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[38] |
2020 | CMA CGM Champs Elysées | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[39] | |
2020 | CMA CGM Palais Royal | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[40] | |
2020 | CMA CGM Louvre | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[41] | |
2021 | CMA CGM Rivoli | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[42] | |
2021 | CMA CGM Montmartre | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
[43] | ||
2021 | CMA CGM Concorde | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
[44] | ||
2021 | CMA CGM Trocadero | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[45] | |
2021 | CMA CGM Sorbonne | 399.9 | 1,312 | 61.3 | 201 | 23,112 | 236,583 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
[46] | ||
10 | 2017 | OOCL Hong Kong | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
![]() |
[47] |
2017 | OOCL Germany | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
![]() |
[48] | |
2017 | OOCL Japan | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
![]() |
[49] | |
2017 | OOCL United Kingdom | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
![]() |
[50] | |
2017 | OOCL Scandinavia | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
![]() |
[51] | |
2018 | OOCL Indonesia | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.8 | 193 | 21,413 | 210,890 | OOCL (Hong Kong) | ![]() |
[52] | ||
11 | 2018 | COSCO Shipping Universe | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[53] |
2018 | COSCO Shipping Nebula | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
[54] | ||
2019 | COSCO Shipping Galaxy | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
[55] | ||
2019 | COSCO Shipping Solar | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
[56] | ||
2019 | COSCO Shipping Star | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
[57] | ||
2019 | COSCO Shipping Planet | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.6 | 192 | 21,237 | 215,553 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
[58] | ||
12 | 2018 | CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 59.0 | 193.6 | 20,954 | 219,277 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[59] |
2018 | CMA CGM Jean Mermoz | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 59.0 | 193.6 | 20,954 | 219,277 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[60] | |
2018 | CMA CGM Louis Blériot | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 59.0 | 193.6 | 20,954 | 219,277 | CMA CGM (France) | ![]() |
![]() |
[61] | |
13 | 2017 | Madrid Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[62] |
2017 | Munich Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[63] | |
2017 | Moscow Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[64] | |
2017 | Milan Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[65] | |
2017 | Monaco Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[66] | |
2018 | Marseille Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[67] | |
2018 | Manchester Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[68] | |
2018 | Murcia Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[69] | |
2018 | Manila Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[70] | |
2018 | Mumbai Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[71] | |
2019 | Maastricht Maersk | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.6 | 192 | 20,568 | 214,286 | Maersk (Denmark) | ![]() |
![]() |
[72] | |
14 | 2017 | MOL Truth | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.0 | 190.3 | 20,182 | 210,691 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
![]() |
[73] |
2018 | MOL Treasure | 399.0 | 1,309.1 | 58.0 | 190.3 | 20,182 | 210,691 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
[74] | ||
15 | 2017 | MOL Triumph | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,170 | 210,678 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
![]() |
[75] |
2017 | MOL Trust | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,170 | 210,678 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
![]() |
[76] | |
2017 | MOL Tribute | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,170 | 210,678 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
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[77] | |
2017 | MOL Tradition | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,170 | 210,678 | ONE (Japan) | ![]() |
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[78] | |
16 | 2019 | Ever Glory | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,160 | 219,775 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
![]() |
[79] |
2019 | Ever Govern | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,160 | 219,688 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[80] | |
2019 | Ever Globe | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,160 | 219,775 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[81] | |
2019 | Ever Greet | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,160 | 219,688 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
[82] | ||
17 | 2018 | Ever Golden | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,079 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
[83] | |
2018 | Ever Goods | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,079 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[84] | |
2018 | Ever Genius | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,400 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[85] | |
2018 | Ever Given | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,079 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[86] | |
2018 | Ever Gifted | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,352 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[87] | |
2019 | Ever Grade | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 219,158 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[88] | |
2019 | Ever Gentle | 400.0 | 1,312.3 | 58.8 | 193 | 20,124 | 217,612 | Evergreen (Taiwan) | ![]() |
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[89] | |
18 | 2018 | COSCO Shipping Taurus | 399.8 | 1,312 | 58.7 | 193 | 20,119 | 194,864 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[90] |
2018 | COSCO Shipping Gemini | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.7 | 193 | 20,119 | 194,864 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[91] | |
2018 | COSCO Shipping Virgo | 399.9 | 1,312 | 58.7 | 193 | 20,119 | 194,864 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[92] | |
2018 | COSCO Shipping Libra | 399.7 | 1,311 | 58.7 | 193 | 20,119 | 194,864 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[93] | |
2018 | COSCO Shipping Sagittarius | 399.7 | 1,311 | 58.7 | 193 | 20,119 | 194,864 | COSCO (China) | ![]() |
![]() |
[94] |
Delivery | Operator | Number | Maximum TEU | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Mediterranean Shipping Company | 4x Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding 4x Jiangnan Shipyard 2x Yangzijiang Shipbuilding |
24,232 | [95][96] |
2023 | Ocean Network Express | 6x Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United | 24,000 | [97] |
2023 | Seaspan ULC | 2x | 24,000 | [98] |
2022 | Evergreen | 6x Samsung Heavy Industries | 23,992 | [99][100] |
2022 | Evergreen | 4x Jiangnan Shipyard 4x Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding |
24,004 | [101][99] |
2023 | Hapag-Lloyd | 12x Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering | 23,500+ | [102][103] |
2023 | OOCL | 6x Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering 6x Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering |
23,000 | [104][105] |
Date of departure | Ship | TEU | Port | Destination | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 August 2021 | Ever Ace | 21,710 | Yantian | Rotterdam | [2] |
8 April 2021 | CMA CGM Jacques Saadé | 21,433 | Singapore | Le Havre | [106] |
12 October 2020 | CMA CGM Jacques Saadé | 20,723 | Singapore | Le Havre | [107] |
8 May 2020 | HMM Algeciras | 19,621 | Yantian | Rotterdam | [108] |
28 July 2019 | MSC Gülsün | 19,574 | Tanjung Pelepas | Algeciras | [109] |
1 June 2019 | Monaco Maersk | 19,284 | Tanjung Pelepas | Rotterdam | [110] |
11 February 2019 | MOL Tribute | 19,190 | Singapore | Southampton | [111] |
August 2018 | Mumbai Maersk | 19,038 | Tanjung Pelepas | Rotterdam | [112] |