Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has made maritime history by becoming the first shipping line to deploy 24,000 TEU megaships on routes serving West Africa—marking a major milestone in the region’s integration into global trade networks.
According to Container News, MSC has introduced two ultra-large container vessels—the MSC Diletta and MSC Türkiye—on its Africa Express service.
This route connects major Asian export hubs, including China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, to key West African ports such as Lomé (Togo), Tema (Ghana), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), and Douala (Cameroon).
The MSC Diletta is a maritime giant, stretching 400 meters in length and 61 meters in width, with a capacity of 23,964 TEUs.
The MSC Türkiye is even more capacious, with room for 24,346 TEUs, making it one of the largest container ships ever constructed.
On April 23, the MSC Diletta made a historic maiden call at the Port of Lomé, setting a new benchmark as one of the largest vessels ever to dock in West Africa.
The ship has since visited Abidjan, reinforcing the region’s growing ability to accommodate such massive maritime assets.
MSC described this deployment not just as an operational milestone but as a strategic investment in Africa’s trade future.
“This deployment reflects our long-term commitment to the continent,” MSC stated, emphasizing its objectives to boost trade capacity, enhance regional connectivity, and promote economic growth and community development.
As these 24,000 TEU vessels become a regular feature along the West African coast, industry analysts anticipate wide-reaching effects, including increased trade volumes, accelerated port infrastructure upgrades, and job creation across the maritime and logistics sectors.
MSC’s latest initiative underscores West Africa’s rising importance in global shipping and signals the beginning of a transformative era in the region’s trade development.
