Are ports ready for 27,500 TEU ships?

For much of September, one number dominated discussions in shipping circles: 27,500 TEU. The discussion originated with Alphaliner, which said there were reasons to believe orders for vessels larger than today’s 24,000 TEU Megamax class could be placed in the “foreseeable future”.

To illustrate the point, Alphaliner revived a previously presented “Gigamax-25” design carrying around 27,500 TEU. The design envisages vessels 414m and 425m long. The 414m configuration adds one 40ft bay, while the 425m version adds an extra hold with two additional 40ft bays. At 63.3m wide, the Gigamax vessel would stow containers 25 rows across, with stacks of up to 13 high-cube containers on deck.

The 27,500-TEU vessel is not entirely theoretical. In 2024, Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) received DNV approval in principle for its 27,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel Green Sealion design, described as the world’s largest container ship design by nominal capacity. However, no orders have so far followed.

Alphaliner said that higher fuel and carbon costs could favour larger vessels on long-haul east-west trades by spreading propulsion costs across more containers. At 27,500 TEU, the Gigamax concept would carry around 7,000 TEU more than a 20,500-TEU vessel while consuming only marginally more fuel.

This story was originally published by World Cargo News. Read the full story at World Cargo News →