Quanti container ci stanno su una nave? Dalle navi feeder alle mega-navi
By Steve Joury / 23 ottobre 2026
Quanti container ci stanno su una nave? Dalle navi feeder da 1.000 TEU alle mega-navi da oltre 24.000 TEU, cos’è un TEU, come...
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Ultimo aggiornamento: 22 ottobre 2026
Container ships range from small feeder vessels around 150 metres long to giants of about 400 metres, longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The largest ships in service today carry over 24,000 containers’ worth of cargo. Here is how container ships are measured, how the size classes compare, and what that means if you travel on one.
Cosa significa TEU?
Container ship capacity is measured in TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). One TEU is a standard 20-foot container, about 6 metres long. Most cargo now moves in 40-foot containers, which count as 2 TEU. So a 10,000 TEU ship carries roughly 5,000 forty-foot boxes when full.
Container ship sizes compared
| Size class | Typical capacity | Lunghezza tipica | Where you see them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alimentatore | Fino a circa 3.000 TEU | 140–200 m | Short regional routes, smaller ports |
| Panamax | Circa 3.000–5.000 TEU | Up to 294 m | Older ships sized for the original Panama Canal locks |
| Neopanamax | Up to about 15,000 TEU | Up to 366 m | Ships sized for the expanded Panama Canal locks |
| Nave portacontainer di dimensioni eccezionali (ULCV) | 18.000–24.000+ TEU | About 400 m | Asia–Europe main routes |
The world’s largest container ships
The record is held by MSC’s Irina class, launched from 2023. MSC Irina carries 24,346 TEU, is 399.9 metres long e 61.3 metres wide. Ships of this size are so big that only a handful of the world’s ports can handle them, and they sail mainly between Asia and northern Europe.
How big is a container ship compared with other things?
- Length: a 400-metre ship is longer than four football pitches placed end to end
- Width: about 61 metres across, wide enough for 24 containers side by side
- Height: containers can be stacked more than ten high above deck
- Crew: despite the size, a modern container ship runs with a crew of only about 20–30 people
How big are the passenger cabins?
Passenger cabins sit in the accommodation block at the back of the ship, near the bridge. A standard passenger cabin is roughly the size of a good hotel room, with an en-suite shower, desk and window. Owner’s cabins are larger, often with a separate sitting area. The accommodation block is several decks high, so the view from your window is often above the container stacks.
Does ship size affect your voyage?
- Bigger ships feel very stable in moderate seas and sail the main ocean routes between large ports
- Smaller ships call at more interesting, smaller ports but move more in heavy weather
- Port time is often shorter on the biggest ships, because terminals turn them around fast
If you are prone to seasickness, a larger ship on a summer crossing is a good first choice.
Domande frequenti
How big is a container ship?
From about 150 metres for small feeder ships to around 400 metres for the largest ultra large container vessels.
What is the largest container ship in the world?
The MSC Irina class holds the record at 24,346 TEU, with ships 399.9 metres long and 61.3 metres wide.
What does TEU stand for?
Twenty-foot equivalent unit, the capacity of one standard 20-foot container.
How many containers can a ship carry?
The largest ships carry over 24,000 TEU, which is roughly 12,000 forty-foot containers.
How many crew work on a container ship?
Usually about 20–30, even on the very largest ships.
Want to see a giant container ship from the inside?
Book a passenger cabin and watch the ocean from above the container stacks.
Find a container ship voyage →
Steve Joury
Consulente di viaggio Cargo at Cargoholidays
Appassionato di viaggi lenti e di mare. Steve conosce la maggior parte delle rotte di navigazione e le procedure per scoprire il nostro bellissimo mondo dal mare su una nave container. Ha partecipato a molti viaggi, da 7 giorni di viaggio in cargo a 140 giorni a bordo.
