The 23,656 TEU MSC Isabella became the largest-ever containership to call at the Port of Singapore when it arrived on November 10, 2019, as it returned from its maiden voyage.
According to multiple national and regional reports, the vessel began its journey from Qingdao on August 28, 2019, and called at a host of major European ports, such as Rotterdam and Antwerp. The Singapore call is the MSC Isabella’s first stop in Asia.
At 400 meters long and 61 meters wide, the vessel is reportedly able to carry approximately 2,000 refrigerated containers. It exceeds the length of the Eifel Tower and is big enough to carry 222 million bananas and 384 million pairs of shoes.
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It is the latest vessel in MSC’s 11-strong fleet of mega-ships. In August 2019, Port Technology International reported on the maiden voyage of the MSC Gulsun, currently the biggest containership in the world with a TEU capacity of 23,756.
The MSC Isabella was built by South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and, like MSC’s other mega-ship new builds, has been designed with the latest eco-friendly technologies, such as an optimized bulbous bow and rubber bulb lower resistance while sailing, which further enhances energy efficiency.
Yj Tan, Regional Managing Director, MSC Asia Regional Office, Singapore, said the vessel’s route, “demonstrates our continued commitment to this largest and busiest trade corridor.
“We are delighted to welcome the first port call in Singapore by MSC Isabella from our largest Gülsün-Class of ships.”
