Video: New Container Moves World Record Set in Port of LA

The 18,465 containers moved from the ultra-large container vessel (ULVC) MSC Isabella at APM Terminals’ Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles last week set a new world record for most boxes moved during a single port call.

The Port of Los Angeles, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, APM Terminals Los Angeles and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Locals 13, 63 and 94 set the new record total — equal to 34,263 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) — topping the previous world best by 1,385 containers.

Approximately 400 meters long and 61 meters wide, with capacity to carry up to to 23,656 TEU, MSC Isabella is one of the largest ships in the world. The mega-ship is part of a new class of 23,000+ TEU containerships recently added to the MSC global shipping network.

MSC Isabella’s arrival in Los Angeles marks its first time calling at a North American container port. The ship arrived at APMT on Friday, June 12, and departed June 19. During the ship’s call, the ILWU operated nine ship-to-shore cranes to execute the record-setting feat.

“This achievement continues to show that the Port of Los Angeles is big-ship steady and can adeptly handle these increasingly bigger cargo lifts,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director at the Port of Los Angeles. “We applaud the outstanding work of our ILWU workforce, and the great people of APM Terminals and MSC who put their trust in the Port of Los Angeles to carry out this cargo move milestone.”

The Port of Los Angeles, North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic.