MSC Türkiye, one of the world’s largest container vessels, made its maiden call at the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala on April 8, marking a significant moment for India’s maritime infrastructure.
The vessel, operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), docked at the port operated by Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ), reinforcing Vizhinjam’s positioning as a deep-sea transshipment hub capable of handling ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs).
At nearly 400 metres in length and over 61 metres in width, the MSC Türkiye has a carrying capacity of 24,346 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), making it the largest container ship to have ever berthed at an Indian port. It surpasses the size of MSC Claude Girardet, which previously held the record when it docked at Vizhinjam in September 2023.
Built with an emphasis on fuel efficiency, the Türkiye is being cited as part of a wider trend in the shipping industry to reduce emissions while maintaining high-volume operations.
The vessel, which sails under the Liberian flag, has been designed to leave a relatively lower carbon footprint per container, compared to older ships in the same class.
Vizhinjam’s location—just 10 nautical miles from the East-West international shipping route—has been one of its main advantages. The port features a natural depth of 20 metres, which requires minimal dredging, and is designed to operate with full automation. Its infrastructure has been planned to accommodate Megamax vessels and container ships of similar scale to the Türkiye.
Currently, Vizhinjam is in Phase 1 of development and is expected to handle 1 million TEUs. Future phases are projected to take the capacity up to 5.5 million TEUs, with the final stage of construction targeted for completion by 2028.
India currently relies heavily on foreign ports—such as Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai—for container transshipment. The plan for Vizhinjam is to offer an alternative that could reduce that dependence over time.
According to the terms of a 40-year agreement between the Kerala government and the Adani Group, the port is expected to handle around 50% of India’s container transshipment volume once fully operational.