Imagine standing at the edge of a port and watching a ship so massive. It reaches beyond what your eyes can see—almost as long as four football fields placed in a row. Its containers rise high like a floating city. Each box carries everything we use in our day-to-day lives. The cargo vessel is more than just a ship. It’s a silent giant of global trade that powers the world’s economy.
In 2025, container ships have reached extraordinary size, breaking records year after year. The largest can carry over 24,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), enough to move millions of products. These ships are the wonders of engineering, built with powerful engines, smart technology, and greener designs to support modern trade.
This article will give you a detailed look at the 10 biggest container ships in the world in 2025.
1. MSC Irina – 24,346 TEUs
- Capacity—24,346 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.3 meters
- Operator—Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- Flag—Liberia
- Year Built—2023
MSC Irina is the largest container ship in the world as of 2025. Built by Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China. MSC Irina can carry over 240,000 tons of cargo. The vessel first sailed in 2023 and represents a major step forward in ULCV (Ultra-Large Container Vessel) design. The MSC Irina features advanced hull design and energy-saving technologies, including hybrid scrubbers that reduce carbon emissions by up to 4%. The vessel covers the Asia-Europe trade route, where demand for mega ships is highest.
2. MSC Loreto – 24,346 TEUs
- Capacity—24,346 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.3 meters
- Operator—Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- Flag—Liberia
- Year Built—2023
MSC Loreto is the sister ship of MSC Irina. These two vessels highlight MSC’s dominance in operating the world’s largest container fleet. MSC Loreto primarily operates between China, Singapore, and European ports. The construction of MSC Loreto also took place at Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group in China. Every time the ship enters a port, it stretches the limits of harbor infrastructure, demanding the tallest cranes and deepest berths.
3. MSC Michel Cappellini – 24,346 TEUs
- Capacity—24,346 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.3 meters
- Operator—Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- Flag—Liberia
- Year Built—2023
MSC Michel Cappellini is another member of MSC’s Irina class and operates the world’s largest container fleet. The massive size of MSC Michel Cappellini requires advanced port cranes and deep-water terminals. Its design focuses on fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact, aligning with global sustainability goals in maritime transport.
4. OOCL Spain – 24,188 TEUs
- Capacity—24,188 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.3 meters
- Operator—OOCL (Hong Kong)
- Flag—Hong Kong
- Year Built—2023
OOCL Spain is the first of OOCL’s (Orient Overseas Container Line) ships to go beyond 24,000 TEUs. The OOCL fleet operates eight vessels over 24,000 TEUs built with OOCL Spain. With a capacity of 24,188 TEUs, it ranks among the top container ships around the world. The ships were built by China’s Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co. Currently OOCL vessels operate on the Europe and East Asia trade route.
5. ONE Innovation – 24,136 TEUs
- Capacity—24,136 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.5 meters
- Operator—ONE (Ocean Network Express)
- Flag—Liberia
- Year Built—2023
The ONE INNOVATION is a ULCS container ship. This vessel is operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE). The ship was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. Ocean Network Express (ONE) launched six ships in the INNOVATION series in 2023, all designed to support its “Green Vision” strategy. They are aligned with ONE’s “green vision” strategy. These ships currently operate liner service on the Asia-to-Europe trade route under The Premier Alliance.
6. MSC Tessa – 24,116 TEUs
- Capacity—24,116 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.5 meters
- Operator—Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- Flag—Liberia
- Year Built—2023
The MSC Tessa is one of the largest container ships in the world. The ship was built in 2023 by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and is operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company. The Tessa class consisted of eight ships. These ships are built to handle the busiest trade routes, especially between Europe and Asia. These innovations are equipped with several energy-saving features. They help to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emission by 3-4%.
7. EVER Alot – 24,004 TEUs
- Capacity—24,004 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.5 meters
- Operator—Evergreen Marine Cooperation.
- Flag—Panama
- Year Built—2022
The Ever Alot was the first container ship in history to pass 24,000 TEUs. It set a new turning point that other shipping companies quickly followed. The ship was built in 2022 by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China. Ever Alot is currently operated by a Taiwanese shipping giant, the Evergreen Marine Corporation. The Ever Alot shipping class consists of five ships, while two of them are sailing under the flag of Singapore (Ever Atop and Ever Acma). The innovation of the Ever Alot class is a significant addition to the global container shipping fleet. Primarily the vessel sails between the Far East and Europe.
8. EVER Ace – 23,992 TEUs
- Capacity—23,992 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.5 meters
- Operator—Evergreen Marine Cooperation.
- Flag—Panama
- Year Built—2021
The Ever Ace, another Evergreen ship, once was the world’s largest container ship. The ship first sailed in 2021 and was built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. The Ever Ace class consists of six giant container ships. They have made a significant impact in the shipping industry by providing efficient and reliable transport solutions for global trade. The Ever Ace is a part of the Evergreen A class (Ever A), designed to maximize efficiency and sustainability in shipping.
9. HMM Algeciras – 23,964 TEUs
- Capacity—23,964 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.0 meters
- Operator—Hyundai merchant Marine (HMM)
- Flag—Panama
- Year Built—2020
The ship HMM Algeciras first entered into service in 2020. When it was launched in 2020, it held the title of the largest container ship in the world before being overtaken by MSC’s fleet. The ship still ranks among the largest container ships in the world. The Algeciras class consists of 12 vessels. These vessels were built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries. The ship mainly operates on the busy trade routes, including Asia-Europe through the Suez Canal.
10. CMA CGM Seine – 23,876 TEUs
- Capacity—23,876 TEUs
- Length—399.9 meters
- Beam (Width)—61.3 meters
- Operator—CMA CGM – France
- Flag—Singapore
- Year Built—2025
The CMA CGM Seine (IMO 9987196) is one of the newest and most advanced container ships. The ship is operated by a French shipping company, CMA CGM. The ship was built by Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and delivered in April 2025. CMA CGM ships are powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), making them one of the cleanest mega-ships operating today.
Source: Wikipedia
The world’s largest container ships in 2025 are more than just giant ships. From the record-breaking MSC Irina to the eco-friendly ships in CMA CGM, it shows how these shipping companies balance size, efficiency, and sustainability to meet the growing demands of the global economy.
As global trade continues to expand, ports, shipping lines, and engineers will need to adapt to handle bigger and greener ships. The future of container shipping is likely to feature larger, faster, and more sustainable ships, reshaping the way goods move around the world.
Read : 10 Different Types of Cargo Ships and their functions
