The Largest Container Ship in the World: CMA CGM Marco Polo (VIDEO)

On the 6th of November 2012, the CMA CGM Marco Polo became the largest container ship in the World. This mammoth vessel has the capacity to carry 16,020 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers). Previously, the largest ship was the Emma Maersk with the carrying capacity of 10,000 TEU.

General characteristics

Type: Container ship
Tonnage: 175,343 GT ; 85,361 NT ; 187,625 DWT
Length: 396.0 m (1,299 ft 3 in)
Beam: 53.6 m (175 ft 10 in)
Draught: 16.0 m (52 ft 6 in)
Depth: 29.9 m (98 ft 1 in) (deck edge to keel)
Propulsion: Single shaft, fixed-pitch propeller
Speed: 25.1 knots (46.5 km/h; 28.9 mph)
Capacity: 16,020 TEU

Although the CMA CGM Marco Polo can claim the rights to the largest container ship in the world, this title will be short lived. Maersk is due to launch the Triple-E Class, which is a family of container ships with the capacity to carry 18,000 TEU. Maersk is due to take delivery of the first Triple-E Class container ship in July 2013.


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  • Comment by Mohammed Shoaib Khan on 2013-01-27 20:07:20

    Good achievement by mankind with the help of Allah almighty.Bravo keep up the good things.


  • Comment by Phil Parish on 2013-01-22 17:24:24

    The benifits of a larger vessel are well known, mainly cheaper running costs and hence lower costs per teu. This is important in a volatile and recession hit market. But and this is a big but, when are major carriers going to announce some serious scrappage programmes of older vessels. The market is over tonnaged and freight rates globally will remain low until demand outstrips supply This is current predicted to happen around 2016. If vessels like these are the next generation and other carriers follow this lead then freight rates will remain lower for even longer. Time for some common sense.


  • Comment by Emmanuel Annor on 2013-01-21 13:32:00

    Wow!! We need more of these large vessels to make our trade more efficient.


  • Comment by ITEXPRESS CO., INC on 2013-01-21 09:38:39

    Nice info...more power!


  • Comment by Global Logistics Media on 2013-01-20 21:21:22

    Hi Tony, we are actually making changes to our video player next month, however thanks for the feedback.


  • Comment by Tony on 2013-01-20 19:57:43

    You should switch to a Flash video player, the quality of the streaming with this JW player is very inconsistent, and for me, mostly bad.


  • Comment by N Bailey on 2013-01-20 04:58:55

    The new Maersk ships will carry 2000 more TEU, how big can these ships actually get?.


  • Comment by Bruce Chan on 2013-01-20 04:57:17

    I have had the opportunity to take a tour of this ship, its amazing. Nice video