'MSC ANNA': Karachi Port handles largest-ever container vessel to its terminal

KARACHI: Karachi Port has marked the historic arrival of the ultra-large container vessel — MSC Anna — ever to berth at one of its terminals.

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

Hutchison Ports Pakistan welcomes the maiden call of the CV MSC ANNA, the largest container vessel ever to berth in the country, an official statement read, adding: “This milestone underscores the terminal's advanced capabilities and strategic significance 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 efficiently handle. 

As the country's only deep-water container terminal, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, ensuring seamless management of ultra-large container vessels.

"Hutchison Ports Pakistan is proud to host such massive ships, reflecting our commitment to enhance Pakistan's maritime industry," said CS Kim, CEO of Hutchison Ports Pakistan.

"Our facility regularly handles large vessels, previously berthing ships with capacities up to 14,000 TEUs and lengths of 366 meters. Now, with the arrival of the CV MSC ANNA, which has a length of 400 meters and a capacity of 19,368 TEUs, we continue to demonstrate our capacity to handle the largest vessels efficiently."

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

This influx of larger vessels underscores the terminal's pivotal role in not only strengthening Pakistan's position in global trade but also in contributing to the nation's economic growth, it 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 a significant milestone in the maritime history of Pakistan.

The KPT’s General Manager of Operations Rear Admiral Rizwan Ahmed was present to oversee the monumental event.