Another so-called "world's largest container ship" MSC Raya arriving (backwards!) her Maiden call at Felixstowe, Suffolk, 24 May 2023.
The ship has just arrived at Felixstowe, and has been turned around ("swung"), and now tugs are assisting her back to her berth alongside the quay.
Shipping lines and ship builders have become involved in a race to get the most containers into the same-size ships, by constantly tweaking the design to fit more in!
The largest container ships are all about 400 metres long, and about 61.5 metres wide. But over the past 12 or 15 years, their capacity has risen from about 15,000 TEU (20ft equivalent units) to over 24,000 TEU, by changing the shapes of their hulls to increase internal and on-deck slots.
The 400 metre length and 61.5 width are mainly constrained by the size of port facilities and equipment - but many larger ports are making themselves able to handle bigger ships.
All that has yet to happen is a shipping line to order some 425 metre long ships . . .
The video was filmed by me, Chris Gosling. It was filmed on a Panasonic HC-770 camcorder with ambient sound only. More footage is available if required.