A List of the World's Largest Container Ships

Largest Container Vessels

Regarding shipping, size matters; large ships are more efficient and carry a greater tonnage than smaller ones. The world's largest container vessels carry over 20,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and weigh more than 200,000 tons.

This class of containership transports cargo across oceans and seas to connect continents and make trade easier for companies and consumers.

This capability is why container ships have become so popular in recent years. This article lists all the world's largest container ships and their capacity. It also includes information about how they were built, where they're based, and what makes them unique.

1) Ever Ace

The Ever Ace is a container ship owned by Evergreen Marine. The Evergreen line of A-class ships has the largest ships of their type. Ever Ace is the largest container vessel in the world in 2022, along with its sister ships. It is due to be overtaken by Ever Alot, delivered in June 2022.

Ever Ace was completed by Samsung Heavy Industries in 2021. Its primary purpose is to transport goods between East Asia and North America. The ship has a container capacity of 24,000 TEU. Ever Ace was designed to give fast performance and low energy consumption.

Specifications

• Length - 1312 ft (400 m)
• Beam - 202 ft (61 m)
• Draft - 34 ft (10 m)
• Gross tonnage - 235,579
• Deadweight tonnage - 241,960

This monstrous floating box crossed Suez Canal on its maiden voyage en route to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on 28 August 2021.

Evergreen, the shipping company that owns Ever Ace, has east-west routes linking Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Korea, and Japan with the east and west coasts of the US. Ever Ace flies under a Panamanian flag.

2) HMM Algeciras

Built in 2020 by Korean shipbuilding company Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and owned by Hyundai Merchant Marine, HMM Algeciras has a maximum capacity of 23,992 TEUs.

It is the second-largest cargo container ship in the world.

The HMM Algeciras gives its name to a class of container ships of the same size and function. HMM has built twelve of these mega-container ships.

Specifications

• Length - 1312 ft (400 m)
• Beam - 200 ft (61 m)
• Draft - 34 ft (10 m)
• Gross tonnage - 228,283
• Deadweight - 232,606

3) HMM Oslo

This is an Algeciras-class container ship. HMM (formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine) is the owner and is committed to reducing its carbon emissions. As a result, the HMM Oslo features a specialized hull shape and energy-efficient engines (MAN Diesel & Turbo 11G95ME-C).

The Oslo measures 1312 ft long, and the beam is around 200 ft. Its carrying capacity is 23,820 TEUs.

4) MSC Gulsun

With a length of 1312 ft and a width of 62 meters, MSC Gulsun is the fourth largest cargo container ship in the ocean. It is operated by Mediterranean Shipping, which is the largest shipping company.

Its maximum capacity is 23,756 TEUs. As an example of MSC's environmental commitment, MSC Gulsun produces just 7.49 grams of CO2 emissions to move 1 ton of cargo one nautical mile.

5) MSC Mina

This ship belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) 's Gülşen class of 23,000+TEU ships that were delivered and deployed into the company's global shipping networks in 2019 and 2020.

The MSC Mina measures 1312 ft by 200 ft, or 400 meters long and 60 meters wide. It has a cargo capacity of 23,656 TEUs, making it one of the biggest container vessels in the world.

6) MOL Triumph

MOL Triumph is an ocean liner completed in March 2017 by the Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries in Gejae, South Korea. The vessel was made by the Japanese shipbuilding company Mitsui O.S.K.

Its specifications include a length of 400 meters, a width of 59 meters, and a draft of 11.5 meters.

MOL Triumph boasts four diesel generators that provide electricity for the ship's systems. They generate a combined power of 3 megawatts. It is currently operated by Japanese shipping company ONE (Ocean Network Express) for its Asia North Europe routes.

7) MOL Truth

In 2017, the MOL Truth entered service as one of the biggest container ships in the world. The MOL Truth was built by Imabari Shipbuilding Co, a Japanese company that took great pride in fitting the MOL Truth with cutting-edge eco-friendly technology.

At 400m long and 58.5 m wide, with a draft of 16 m, MOL Truth is similar in size to MOL Triumph and is also operated by the Japanese company ONE.

8) OOCL Hong Kong

This ship was built in 2017 by Samsung Heavy Industries. At that time, it was the largest container ship ever constructed. OOCL Hong Kong has a total length of 1,311 feet, and its beam is 192 ft 11 inches.

Capable of carrying 21,413 TEUs, OOCL Hong Kong is owned by China Ocean Shipping Company Limited.

The OOCL Hong Kong is one of the first container ships with a double hull design. This allows the ship to withstand severe weather conditions such as typhoons or hurricanes. In addition, the double hull design reduces fuel consumption by up to 5% compared to single-hull designs.

Equipped with four diesel engines that produce a total power output of 53,600 kW (71,400 hp), OOCL Hong Kong can reach speeds of up to 21 knots or 24 miles per hour. This ship follows routes throughout East Asia to Northern Europe.

9) CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry

The CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry was launched in 2017 and gave its name to a class of container vessels with similar specifications. The ship is named after French aviator Antoine de Saint Exupéry, who died during WWII.

It is owned by French shipping company CMA CGM and carries containers from Asia to Northern Europe.

Specifications

• Length - 1312 ft (400 m)
• Beam - 194 ft (59 m)
• Draft - 52 ft 6 inches (16 m)
• Width - 175 feet (53.3 m)

In addition, CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry has a load capacity of 20,954 TEUs.

10) CMA CGM Jacques Saadé

The vessel CMA CGM Jacques Saadé is a 2020 mega-ship whose loading capacity is 23000 TEUs. In addition, it gives its name to a class of container ships of similar specifications.

When it was delivered, the CMA CGA Jacques Saadé was the largest containership powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), the least polluting of the fossil fuels. This demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency.

A CMD-WinGD 12X92 DF diesel engine powers the Jacques Saadé. These engines enable the ship to reach a maximum speed of 22 nautical miles per hour.

CMA CGM Jacques Saadé travels under a French Flag with her sister vessels, CMA CGM Louvre, CMA CGM Concorde, and CMA CGM Montmartre.

11) CMA CGM Champs Elysées

The giant container ship CMA CGM Champs-Elysees, owned by French shipping company CMA CGM, was once the world's biggest container ship. It was built in 2009 at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard in Geoje, South Korea.

Specifications

• Length - 1097 ft (320 m)
• Width - 108 ft (32 m)
• Draft - 33 ft (10 m)
• Gross tonnage - 1,063,000 GRT (752,000 DWT)
• Net tonnage - 984,000 GRT (703,000 DWT)
• Deadweight tonnage - 1,136,000 GRT (830,000 DWT)
• Standard container capacity - 24,000
• Service speed - 27 miles per hour

The ship's hull is made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Its double bottom is made of steel.

12) MSC Apolline

MSC Apolline was built in 2021. It has a length of 811ft (244m) and a width of 104ft (32m). Its gross tonnage stands at 200,000 tons, and the vessel has a loading capacity of 23,000 TEU.

The MSC Apolline is powered by two MAN VGT5600 diesel engines that provide a total power of 48,000kW (64,000hp). These allow the ship to reach maximum speeds of 27 knots.

This Liberia-registered ship belongs to the Italian shipping-giant Mediterranean Shipping Company, and its specifications are identical to her sister MSC Arina.

13) COSCO Shipping Universe

When it was launched in 2018, COSCO Shipping Universe was the largest container ship ever built. It has a container capacity of 21,000 TEUs.

The unique feature of this vessel is that it is propelled by three electric motors instead of conventional propellers. These motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries that have a capacity of 3,500 kWh. They can provide enough energy for the ship to travel at speeds of up to 35 knots.

Ocean Network Express, based in Japan and Singapore, owns the COSCO Shipping Universe.

14) COSCO Shipping Galaxy

With a service speed of 28 knots, the COSCO Shipping Galaxy is one of the fastest ships on the seas. The vessel is also equipped with an ice-class of A1.

It was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in South Korea. Construction began in 2019. At first, the ship was called Dae Sun Jin. After being bought by the Chinese Shipping conglomerate COSCONG, it was renamed COSCO Shipping Galaxy.

Specifications

• Length - 991 ft (300 m)
• Beam - 111 ft (33 m)
• Draft - 31 ft (9 m)
• Gross tonnage - 1,065,000 GRT (737,000 DWT)
• Net tonnage - 992,000 GRT (712,000 DWT)
• Deadweight tonnage - 1.2 million GRT (848,000 DWT).
• Carrying capacity - 12,000 TEUs

It is powered by six Wärtsilä 16V46M diesel engines that produce a combined output of 81,200 kW (110,000 HP).

15) Yang Ming

Yang Ming is a 2002-built container ship sailing under the Panamanian flag.

Specifications

• Length - 998 ft (302 m)
• Beam - 107 ft (32 m)
• Draft - 30 ft (9 m)
• Gross tonnage - 875,000 GRT (614,000 DWT)
• Net tonnage - 719,000 GRT (501,000 DWT)
• Deadweight tonnage - 1.094 million GRT (822,000 DWT)
• Cargo capacity - 22,000 TEUs

Powered by four Wärtsilä 12V46MC engines, the Yang Ming travels with a combined power output of 46,000 kW (62,000 hp). The Yang Ming's top speed is 27 knots.

The Yang Ming is owned by the Chinese company Cosco Shipping Lines Limited and managed by the Panamanian Ocean Alliance Inc.

16) CMA CGM Louis Bleriot

Sailing under the flag of Malta, the CMA CGM Louis Bleriot was built in 2018. With a capacity of 21,000 TEUs, it is one of the largest cargo ships in the world. Its size makes it ideal for carrying goods across oceans.

It can sail anywhere in the world without having to refuel. This means that it can travel long distances quickly and efficiently.

This ship is part of the container ship fleet operated by the French company CMEF (Compagnie Maritime Européenne de Freight). It is managed by the German company Hamburg Süd Shipping GmbH.

Specifications

• Length - 990 ft (300 m)
• Beam - 109 ft (32 m)
• Draft - 29 ft (8.8 m)
• Gross tonnage - 872,000 GRT (600,000 DWT)
• Net tonnage - 687,000 GRT (480,000 DWT)
• Deadweight tonnage - 1.082 million GRT (800,000 DWT)
• Engine - 2 MTU 16V4000 M63L 32,000 KW (42,000 HP) diesels

Conclusion

The container ships on this list represent a major global supply chain. And as seen from the descriptions, container ships keep getting bigger and bigger. Undoubtedly, many of the ships on this list will soon be eclipsed by yet larger ships.

Whether you're shipping your car, truck, boat, RV, motorcycle, or household goods, A-1 Auto Transport has you covered. With over 30 years of experience, we've perfected the art of moving cargo throughout the domestic USA and overseas. Get a free quote by contacting us today.