Khorfakkan Port has welcomed MSC MARIELLA, an ultra-large container vessel with a capacity of 24,346 TEUs, marking another milestone for the UAE port and demonstrating its ability to accommodate some of the world’s largest container ships.
Operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the vessel measures approximately 400 metres in length and more than 61 metres in width, placing it among a select group of the largest container ships currently in operation. Its call highlights Khorfakkan Port’s readiness to handle the latest generation of ultra-large container vessels and their operational requirements.
Located on the UAE’s eastern coast, Khorfakkan has direct access to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, giving it proximity to major trade routes linking Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Arabian Gulf and East Africa.
The port’s container terminal is operated by Gulftainer and is equipped with six berths, 18 ship-to-shore cranes and facilities for container storage and handling. The terminal’s infrastructure supports round-the-clock vessel and cargo operations.
The latest vessel call comes as Sharjah continues to expand Khorfakkan’s capacity. Plans envisage increasing annual container-handling capacity from 3.5 million TEUs to 5 million TEUs, followed by phased expansions to 7 million and eventually 10 million TEUs.
The arrival of MSC MARIELLA reinforces Khorfakkan’s growing role as a strategic maritime and logistics gateway and signals continued confidence among major shipping lines in the port’s ability to handle increasingly large vessels.