Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has delivered the 24,116 TEU MSC Tessa, the world’s largest containership.

The delivery takes place as part of a four-vessel deal with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), worth around $600 million.

MSC Tessa is one of only a handful of ships to surpass the 24,000 TEU mark and is classed by DNV classification society.

According to the shipyard, vessels in the same class measure 1,312 feet in length, making them almost 200 feet longer than a typical aircraft carrier, with a beam of nearly 202 feet.

While the loading configuration varies slightly between different shipyards, all the vessels can stack containers up to 25 layers high.

The MSC Tessa uses air lubrication, reducing its energy consumption and carbon emissions by between 3 per cent and 4 per cent. It is also fitted with a hybrid scrubber, a small bulbous bow, large diameter propellers and energy-saving ducts.

The giant vessel will be calling at Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Felixstowe in Northern Europe, with a call at Tanger during the return trip, before proceeding to Singapore.

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group reported that the second ship on order from the series has completed sea trials and that the third and fourth containerships are also under construction.

The Swiss-based container shipping giant has the largest order book in the industry with around 131 containerships on order, according to Alphaliner.

The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2023, with orders spread between Chinese and South Korean shipbuilding majors.

Upon completion, the 14 new Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) ordered by MSC will constitute one-third of the company’s current fleet, with a combined capacity of 1.7 million TEU.

Although the current ships run on conventional fuel, MSC is venturing into the use of more sustainable options, such as biofuels and LNG dual-fuel vessels. The company has already conducted tests with biofuels and plans to increase its usage in the near future.

Additionally, MSC has recently ordered its first ammonia-ready designs, which are being built in China.