DP World Cochin has handled MSC Ilaria, one of the largest container vessels with a record cargo of over 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) – including import, export and transshipment volumes.
This is the highest volume ever achieved in a single vessel operation, surpassing the previous record of handling 6000+ TEUs for the MSC Aurora, said a press release.
The arrival of MSC Ilaria underscores DP World Cochin’s ability to handle next-generation Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) and support growing trade volumes with efficiency and reliability.
With a overall length of 366 metres, the vessel has a capacity 16,616 TEUs, a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 171,079 tonnes and a maximum draft of 17 metres. The dimensions of the ship reflect the increasing scale of global shipping and highlight the infrastructure required to accommodate larger container 11ships, as well as the growing size of vessels calling at Indian ports.
DP World Cochin has significantly expanded its capacity with strategic infrastructure investments, including the introduction of new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, electrified Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (e-RTGs), and an expanded yard space—boosting the terminal’s total capacity to ~ 1.4 million TEUs. The terminal’s power infrastructure upgrades from 3 MVA to 5 MVA ensures seamless operations during peak demand, while the 100 per cent electrification of yard cranes along with the in-house solar plant reduces the carbon footprint for cargo.
The terminal benefits from minimal deviation from international sea routes and proximity to key cargo origins in Kerala and Southwest Tamil Nadu, offering significant cost and time advantages to EXIM trade. It also provides strong coastal connectivity across India, from Gujarat to Kolkata, serving as a key transit point for cargo movement between the east and west coasts.
Published on April 5, 2026
