Vizhinjam International Seaport achieved a remarkable milestone by receiving the MSC Claude Girardet, the largest vessel ever to dock at an Indian port and in South Asia. The vessel, which arrived from Malaysia, boasts an impressive container capacity of 24,116 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Its dimensions are equally notable: it measures 399 meters in length, 61.5 meters in width, and has a depth of 16.7 meters below the waterline. The MSC Claude Girardet sails under the flag of Liberia. This historic docking was celebrated by Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who highlighted its significance for the state's economic development. Vijayan emphasized that the arrival of such a large vessel at Vizhinjam Port, strategically located near major international shipping routes, signals a promising boost in cargo traffic and overall growth for the region. Following its container handling operations at Vizhinjam, the MSC Claude Girardet departed for Portugal later that night. Before this, the largest ship to have docked in India was the MSC Anna, with a capacity of 19,462 TEUs. The MSC Anna had previously docked at Adani Ports in Mundra in May, marking a significant achievement in its own right. This latest arrival underscores Vizhinjam Port's growing prominence and its readiness to handle some of the world’s largest container ships.