Karachi Port handles the largest container ship at its terminal

KARACHI: The Port of Karachi marked the historic arrival of the largest container ship — MSC Anna — ever to dock at one of its terminals.

The largest container ship — with an overall length of 400 meters and a capacity of 19368 TEUs — docked at the South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT) on Wednesday.

Hutchison Ports Pakistan welcomes the maiden call of CV MSC ANNA, the largest container ship ever to dock in the country, an official statement said, adding: “This milestone highlights the advanced capabilities and strategic importance of the terminal in the region.”

MSC ANNA, one of the largest vessels with an overall length of 400 meters, exemplifies the scale of operations that Hutchison Ports Pakistan can effectively handle.

As the country’s only deepwater container terminal, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, ensuring seamless management of ultra-large container ships.

“Hutchison Ports Pakistan is proud to host such huge vessels, reflecting our commitment to strengthen Pakistan’s shipping industry,” said CS Kim, CEO of Hutchison Ports Pakistan.

“Our facility regularly handles large vessels, in the past berthing vessels of up to 14,000 TEU capacity and 366 meters in length. Now, with the arrival of the CV MSC ANNA, which is 400 meters long and has a capacity of 19,368 TEU, we continue to demonstrate our ability to efficiently handle larger vessels.”

The arrival of these larger vessels is expected to reduce shipping costs. Accommodating such massive ships is expected to significantly boost revenue for the government through increased port activities and trade.

This influx of larger ships underscores the central role of the terminal not only in strengthening Pakistan’s position in global trade but also in contributing to the country’s economic development, he concluded.

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) spokesperson said that with its imposing presence, MSC Anna stood as a testament to the nation’s growing maritime capabilities, terming it an important milestone in Pakistan’s maritime history.

KPT Director General Operations Vice Admiral Rizwan Ahmed was present to oversee the monumental event.