When it comes to containerships of the world, size truly does matter. Containerships, it would appear, are getting larger and larger by the day thanks to continued technological advancements.

Containerships, as the name suggests, refer to outstanding vessels that are created and designed specifically for purposes of transporting and shipping large quantities of cargo typically contained in smaller containers. There are different types of containerships categorized based on their overall sizing and volumetric capacity, based on length, depth or tonnage, as well as the mode of handling.

Containerships have come a long way since the very first cargo ships were created to transport cargo in bulk. The inclusion of today’s large containerships has completely revolutionized the way cargo is transported as containerships are deemed more suitable for transporting compact cargo or anything that requires special care or handling during transit.

Different containerships have differing design aspects that are dictated by the type of cargo that needs to be transported, the functionality of the containership, as well as the technological trends that are impacting the market at the time of construction.  Today’s containerships have a carrying capacity of more than 20 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit), which are the terms that are used to define the size of containerships throughout the world. To get you acquainted with the world’s largest containerships, here are their sizes ranked from the largest to the smallest:

1. OOCL Hong Kong

The MV “OOCL Hong Kong” is the world’s largest containership standing at a staggering 400 meters long. It has a carrying capacity of 21,413 TEU for pitches for standard containers and is the third container ship ever created to go beyond the 20,000 Twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) threshold. The OOCL Hong Kong was manufactured at the Samsung Heavy Industries situated in South Korea.

2. Madrid Maersk

The Madrid Maersk used to the world’s largest containership until the OOCL Hong Kong was delivered in May 2017. Constructed by the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard, the Triple-E class Madrid Maersk has the capacity of 20,568 TEUs.

3. MOL Triumph

At 400 meters in length and 58.8 meters in width, MOL Triumph is currently the world’s third largest containership. It has a capacity of 20,170 TEU, is owned by Japanese shipping operator Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. Like the OOCL Hong Kong, it was constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea.

4. MSC Diana

MSC Dianna was built in 2016 by Hyundai and it belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company. It has a carrying capacity of 19462 TEU and a dead weight of 197708.00 tonnes. Other MSC ships that also have the same carrying capacity include MSC Eloane, MSC Mirjam, MSC Rifaya and MSC Leanne.

5. MSC Jade

MSC Jade is a Liberia-flagged vessel that has a cargo capacity of 19224 TEU. It was launched in 2016 and measures 398.400 meters in length, 59.00 meters in breadth and 30.30 meters in the draught.

6. MSC Oscar

This containerships has a carrying capacity was 19,224 TEU but was originally intended to have an 18,400 TEU.

7. CSCL Globe- MV CSCL

The Globe belongs and is operated by China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL). It was created to service Asia-Europe trade routes and it has a maximum capacity of 19,100 TEU. The Globe was launched in November 2014.

8. Barzan (UASC)

The Barzan is owned and operated by United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and was launched in July 2015. It has a capacity of 18,800 TEU and it claims to emit far less carbon than the Maersk EEE class container ships.

9. Magleby Maersk

The Magleby Maersk is a Triple E-Class containership that was constructed at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering shipyard. It is operated by Danish ship-owner Ap Moller Maersk, which is the largest and most popular operation of container shipping that the world has ever seen thus far. It has a carrying capacity of 18,270 TEU.

10. CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin

The Benjamin Franklin is categorized as an Explorer class containership that was delivered to CMA CGM in November 2015. She enjoys an astounding carrying capacity of 18,000 TEU.

11. MSC New York

MSC New York has a capacity of 16652 TEU. It currently transports cargo to and from Panama. It has a length of 399m overall and beam of 54m.

12. CMA CGM Marco Polo

The Marco Polo is a UK-registered containership and like its counterpart the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the Marco Polo is also categorized under the Explorer class. It has a carrying capacity 16,020 TEU.

13. Emma Maersk

The Emma Mærsk is owned and operated by the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group. She and her sister ships were the largest containerships ever built after she was launched in 2006. It has a carrying capacity of 11,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

Got any more large containerships to add to the list? Please leave your comments, additions or suggestions below.