KARACHI — In a historic milestone for Pakistan’s maritime sector, Karachi Port successfully berthed one of the world’s largest container ships, the MSC ERICA, at the South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited (SAPTL).
The successful arrival of the mega-vessel on July 12, 2026, strongly underscores Karachi Port’s advanced logistical capability to handle ultra-large container ships (ULCS), positioning it as a premier maritime gateway in the region.
Heavyweight Specs at the Port
The MSC ERICA is a massive maritime asset, boasting dimensions that challenge the world’s most advanced deep-water berths:
| Dimension / Metric | Specification |
| Length Overall (LOA) | 398.5 meters |
| Beam (Width) | 59.0 meters |
| Carrying Capacity | 20,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) |
| Gross Tonnage (GT) | 194,308 Metric Tonnes |
| Arrival Draught | 12.0 meters |
Boosting Trade Efficiency
Terminal operators confirmed that more than 3,000 containers are scheduled to be efficiently handled during the vessel’s port call. The massive cargo exchange serves as a vital boost to regional supply chains. Once cargo operations are completed in Karachi, the MSC ERICA is scheduled to sail onward to the Port of Dalian, China.
Following the flawless berthing operation, the Master of the MSC ERICA highly commended the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) pilots. The captain praised the team’s outstanding professionalism, safe ship-handling maneuvers under pressure, and warm hospitality, declaring Karachi Port to be one of the finest and most reliable ports in the region.
