Stretching nearly four football fields in length and as wide as a ten-lane highway, the MSC MARIELLA made a dramatic entrance into Colombo’s harbour on April 28, 2025, docking at the state-of-the-art East Container Terminal (ECT). At 399.90 meters long and 61.30 meters broad, this ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) is one of a half-dozen “Irina-class” giants built in 2023, each capable of transporting up to 24,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo. With a deadweight tonnage of 240,739 tonnes—equivalent to roughly three times the weight of the Eiffel Tower—the ship underscores Sri Lanka’s deep-water credentials and Colombo Port’s growing prestige as a premier transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean.
A Leviathan of the Seas
Constructed by Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding in China, the MSC MARIELLA is powered by a single, colossal two-stroke WinGD-11X92DF diesel engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller—enough raw horsepower to cruise at 22 knots (over 40 km/h) fully laden. Each of her 24,346 TEU holds roughly 19 million pairs of sneakers or 1.5 million car engines, making her not just a ship but a floating city of commerce. The inclusion of reefer (refrigerated) container plugs and a maximum draft of 16.26 meters ensures she can serve diverse cargo needs, from perishables to heavy machinery.
Colombo East Container Terminal: Ready for Giants
The vessel berthed at the ECT, a facility designed expressly to welcome ULCVs. Phase II of the terminal spans 72 hectares, featuring a 1,320-meter quay capable of handling three vessels of over 400 meters simultaneously. The channel leading to ECT was dredged to depths between 18 and 20 meters, with a two-way lane width of 570 meters—ample room for ships the size of the MSC MARIELLA to manoeuvre safely. Four remote-operated Super-Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, each lifting up to 65 tonnes, stood by to unload containers in record time, reflecting SLPA’s commitment to speed and technological advancement.
Sri Lanka’s Strategic Linchpin
Colombo Port’s natural advantage lies at the crossroads of East-West shipping lanes. Serving over 1,000 ports in more than 120 countries, it handles over 7 million TEUs annually, ranking within the world’s top 25 busiest ports. By accommodating the MSC MARIELLA, Sri Lanka reaffirms its place on the “Maritime Silk Route,” offering shipping lines rapid transshipment and minimal diversion times. With weekly calls from more than 70 global services, the port fuels Sri Lanka’s economy—generating revenue, creating jobs, and drawing investment into logistics and related industries.
Why This Matters
The arrival of the MSC MARIELLA goes beyond pageantry. It is tangible proof that Colombo can not only host but efficiently handle the world’s most advanced vessels. In a world where economies hinge on just-in-time delivery, port efficiency can mean the difference between a factory operating on schedule or grinding to a halt. By embracing ULCVs, Sri Lanka signals to global shippers that it is open for business at the highest level.
A Glimpse into Tomorrow
As the crane booms echoed across the harbour and the first containers slid onto waiting chassis, planners were already looking ahead. The completion of the West Container Terminal in 2025 will add another 3.2 million TEU capacity and berth depths of 20 meters, further cementing Colombo’s status as a maritime powerhouse. With the MSC MARIELLA as its herald, Colombo Port sails confidently into a future where the world’s largest ships call Sri Lanka home.
