World’s Largest Containership Completes Maiden Voyage from China to Europe

Photo courtesy MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

The world’s largest containership, MSC Gülsün, has completed its maiden voyage from Asia to Europe, its MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company said Monday. 

AIS ship tracking data shows the MSC Gülsün has arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany after completing its journey from northern China.

At some 400 meters long and more than 60 meters wide, MSC Gülsün has a remarkable 23,756 TEU capacity. The record-setting capacity means the ship can emit less CO2 per container carried. Built at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, the vessel is the first in a class of 10 ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) to be delivered to MSC. 

In total, SHI will deliver six of the new class of ships, while Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) is constructing the other five, also in South Korea.

During its maiden voyage, the ship set sail from the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia with a record-setting 19,574 TEUs loaded before making its way through the Suez Canal towards Europe. 

“MSC Gülsün’s improved energy efficiency and fuel economy ensure that MSC is on track to meet international 2030 environmental policy targets set by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) ahead of time, building on a 13 percent improvement in CO2 emissions per ton of cargo moved already achieved across the MSC fleet between 2015 and 2018,” MSC said in a press release. 

“To comply with an upcoming marine fuel regulation in 2020, the ship is also equipped with a UN IMO-approved hybrid Exhaust Gas Cleaning System and has the option of switching to low-Sulphur fuel, or to be adapted for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the future,” the press release. 

Updated: August 23, 2019 (Originally published August 19, 2019)

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