Karachi Port on Monday received one of the world's largest container ships, the MSC Loreto, marking a milestone in Pakistan's ability to handle ultra-large cargo vessels and strengthen its role in global maritime trade, according to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
Arrival of the MSC Loreto
The nearly 400-meter-long Liberia-flagged vessel, with a carrying capacity of 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), berthed at the South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPTL) facility. It carried 3,802 TEUs destined for Karachi, while its total onboard cargo amounted to 14,538 TEUs, KPT said in a statement.
MSC Loreto belongs to the world's largest class of container ships currently in operation, sharing the current world-leading capacity of 24,346 TEUs with several sister ships.
Significance for Pakistan's Maritime Trade
“The arrival of MSC Loreto is another important milestone reflecting Karachi Port’s growing capacity and world-class port infrastructure,” the KPT statement said. “It clearly demonstrates that Karachi Port now has the capability to safely and efficiently handle some of the world’s largest container ships.”
Container ships with capacities exceeding 20,000 TEUs are classified as ultra-large container vessels and can only be accommodated by ports with sufficient channel depth, berth length, and crane capacity. The arrival comes as Pakistan seeks to expand trade through investments in port infrastructure and modern terminal facilities.
Infrastructure Investments
KPT said the vessel’s arrival reflected continued investments in infrastructure, modern terminal facilities, and operational efficiency, which it said would help promote Pakistan’s maritime trade and strengthen the country’s position in global shipping networks. The milestone highlights Karachi Port's growing role as a key node in international maritime logistics.
