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Longer than four football fields and carrying enough cargo to supply an entire country, the Ever Ace is one of the largest container ships on the planet — and transforms global trade with every crossing.
Imagine a ship capable of transporting, at one time, the equivalent of 20 thousand containers. Each one is about 6 feet long. If these containers were placed in a straight line, they would form a row of more than XNUMX feet long. 120 kilometers long — a distance capable of crossing cities or disappearing into the horizon.
This is Ever Ace, Evergreen Marine’s green behemoth, launched in 2021 to revolutionize shipping. At an impressive 400 meters long, 61,5 meters wide and with a cargo capacity of 23.992 TEUs (twenty-foot units), it holds the title of one of the largest container ships in operation in the world. – Meet the ship that consumes the equivalent of a thousand full truck tanks per day — and crosses oceans non-stop
Designed in South Korea and built at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in China, Ever Ace is part of the new generation of ULCV (Ultra Large Container Vessel) vessels, created to increase logistics efficiency, reduce costs and meet the growing demand of international trade.
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Since its maiden voyage, Ever Ace has crossed the globe several times, connecting ports in Asia, Europe and the Americas, with virtually no long stops between loads. The ship operates on optimized routes, supported by state-of-the-art navigation technologies and automated logistics, which allows its journey around the world to be completed with minimal interruptions and maximum energy efficiency.
With a daily consumption of thousands of liters of fuel, it still manages to be more efficient than dozens of smaller cargo ships making the same journey. This is because its size allows Scale economy — reducing the cost per ton transported, a decisive factor in the globalized world.
At the bow, the imposing inscription “EVER ACE” stands out against the light green hull, a visible symbol of maritime power. At the stern, the main engine — one of the largest in the world — smoothly moves its nearly 240 tons of displacement, even on the high seas. And despite being a giant, the Ever Ace is agile enough to meet strict deadlines on tight stopovers, thanks to tugboats, port valets and artificial intelligence-assisted routing software.
What are mega container ships?
ULCVs (Ultra Large Container Vessels) are the largest cargo ships in the world. Created to meet the growing demand of global trade, they are designed to maximize cargo space, reduce logistics costs per ton and increase efficiency on international shipping routes.
These ships are typically between 400 and 430 meters long (longer than the Eiffel Tower lying down) and can carry more than 20 TEUs (20-foot containers). For comparison, a typical cargo ship carries about 2.000 to 3.000 containers.
Famous models: from the Ever Given to the Ever Ace – both known as ships that carry 20 containers
The world learned of the power — and risk — of these giants in March 2021, when the Ever given, from the company Evergreen Marine, got stuck in the Suez Canal, blocking one of the planet's main trade routes for almost a week. With its 400 meters long and more than 200 thousand tons, the ship ran aground during a maneuver, causing an estimated loss of US$9 billion a day to world trade.
Another impressive model from the same company is the Ever Ace, launched in 2021. With a capacity for 23.992 containers, it is one of the largest ships ever built. The Ever Ace measures 400 meters long and 61,5 meters wide, with a height equivalent to a 20-story building.
Other ships in this class include:
- MSC Gulsun (Mediterranean Shipping Company)
- HMM Algeciras (Hyundai Merchant Marine)
- CMA CGM Jacques Saadé (powered by LNG – liquefied natural gas)
These vessels are true logistical revolutions on the high seas.
How are the loading and unloading logistics carried out? The ship that carries 20 thousand containers
The loading and unloading operation of a megaship is a meticulously planned choreography. Each container needs to be in the exact position to ensure the balance of the vessel, the speed of unloading and compliance with logistical deadlines.
In ports, gigantic cranes operate 24 hours a day. A modern terminal like the one in the Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands) or Shanghai (China) can handle more than 100 containers per hour with automated equipment and trained operators. The entire process depends on advanced software, intermodal logistics and integration with railways and trucks.
Additionally, there is the challenge of identification of each unit, as loads range from electronics to food, chemicals and vehicles.
What are the main routes for mega ships?
The mega container ships follow fixed trade routes, determined by logistics hubs and ports with adequate structure. The main routes are:
- Asia – Europe: via Suez Canal
- Asia – North America: crossing the Pacific to the US West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle)
- Asia – South America: passing through ports such as Santos (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina)
- Transatlantic routes: between Europe and North America
Trips can last from 15 45 the day, depending on the distance and stopovers. The journey between Shanghai and Rotterdam, for example, takes about 30 days.
How do these giants maneuver and avoid accidents?
Maneuvering a ship hundreds of meters long and weighing thousands of tons requires technology and experience. In ports, the process is aided by tugboats and practical — professionals who know every curve and local depth in detail.
On board, the ship is equipped with:
- Satellite navigation systems (GPS and AIS)
- Depth sensors
- Long-range maritime radar
- Power-assisted propulsion and special rudders
Even so, the margin for error is small. In the Suez Canal, for example, the channel is about 200 meters wide in some sections, making it nearly impossible for ships to pass through.
In addition, climate change, crosswinds and human error continue to be challenges. Therefore, contingency plans, constant training and artificial intelligence are increasingly present in navigation.
Interesting facts about mega container ships
- O longest ship already built was the Seawise Giant, 458 meters long — but it was an oil tanker.
- Modern container ships are capable of carrying refrigerated cargo in containers called “reefers”.
- More than 90% of all world trade passes through ships — and a large part through container ships.
- On average, a single ship can carry 200 million items, from iPhones to toys and auto parts.
- The cost to operate one of these giants is around US$40 to 100 per day, including fuel, crew and maintenance.
Historical incidents that marked the sector
In addition to the famous grounding of the Ever given, other incidents caught the attention of the maritime industry:
- Maersk Honam (2018): A fire destroyed part of the cargo and caused deaths on board. This led to discussions about misdeclared dangerous cargo.
- MSC Zoe (2019): During a storm in the North Sea, the ship lost 342 containers at sea, some with toxic materials.
- Yantian Express (2019): Also hit by fire, leading to a salvage and partial offloading process in Canada.
Maersk Honam (2018): the fire that exposed the invisible risks on mega-freighters
On March 6, 2018, the megaship Maersk Honam, operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk Line, has been hit by a catastrophic fire in the middle of the Indian Ocean, some 900 nautical miles off the coast of India. The vessel, with a capacity of more than 15 containers (TEUs), was sailing from China to Egypt when the fire started in one of the forward holds, spreading rapidly.
The incident resulted in the death of five crew members and severe damage to the ship's structure. Rescue operations were hampered by the intensity of the flames and the remote location. Only days later, specialized tugboats managed to contain the fire.
The tragedy generated great repercussions in the maritime sector and raised a critical alert about the misdeclared dangerous goods. The investigation revealed that flammable chemicals — misidentified on shipping documentation — may have triggered the fire.
Maersk stepped up its protocols after the incident, including manual inspections of suspicious cargo and sanctions for shippers who failed to identify hazardous substances. In addition, the case put pressure on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to review its safety guidelines on chemical containers and fire-fighting standards.
The Maersk Honam was partially rebuilt and renamed as Maersk Halifax. To this day, the case is cited as one of the most serious incidents involving mega-cargo vessels in the modern era, highlighting the hidden challenges of global maritime logistics.
MSC Zoe (2019): when the sea took hundreds of containers — and environmental safety is the subject of debate
On the night of January 1st to 2nd, 2019, the ship Msc zoe, of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, encountered an intense storm while sailing through the North Sea. During the crossing between Portugal and Germany, the megaship — with 396 meters long and capacity for more than 19 thousand containers — was violently shaken by waves and winds in excess of 10 Beaufort.
As a result, 342 containers were thrown into the sea, spilling tons of products — including auto parts, toys, furniture, lithium batteries and even hazardous materials like highly flammable organic peroxides.
The accident had a direct impact on the coast of frisia, between the Netherlands and Germany, where dozens of tons of cargo washed up on beaches. Local populations mobilized to clean up the waste, but the dispersion of toxic materials worried environmental authorities, leading to investigations into the potential ecological risk in protected areas.
Dutch and German maritime authorities have demanded answers from MSC and requested improvements in lashing and cargo checking practices. The IMO (International Maritime Organization) has also begun discussing new protocols to prevent container losses in the open sea, especially on large vessels.
The MSC Zoe incident has reinforced the warning about the fragility of moorings in severe storms and the importance of tracking and recovering cargo that has fallen into the sea, both for safety and environmental protection.
Yantian Express (2019): Massive fire in the middle of the North Atlantic winter
In January 2019, the Yantian Express, a German-flagged ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd, suffered a devastating fire on board while crossing the North Atlantic, en route from the United States to Europe. The fire started in one of the containers positioned at the bow and quickly spread to other compartments.
The ship, which was carrying about 7.500 TEUs, had part of its cargo compromised before rescue efforts could be organized. The crew of 23 had to be evacuated amid extreme cold and adverse sea conditions. It took specialized tugboats days to control the flames and bring the ship to the port of Halifax, Canada.
The cause of the fire was suggested to be spontaneous combustion or a chemical cargo failure, once again raising questions about the correct declaration of hazardous materials. Although no fatalities were reported, the logistical and financial damage was significant, with hundreds of containers lost and weeks of delays in the supply chain.
Hapag-Lloyd declared general endorsement (general average), a legal mechanism that requires all cargo owners on board to share the costs of rescue — which has generated protests among customers.
The Yantian Express case highlighted the vulnerability of mega freighters to poorly contained chemical fire hazard, even on modern vessels, and has expanded debates on automation, thermal sensors and global inspection standards on cargo ships.
Why are these ships so important to the world?
Mega container ships are the invisible drivers of globalization. They allow a product manufactured in China to arrive in Brazil in just a few weeks, with logistics costs diluted by the high load capacity.
Without them, the price of everything—clothing, electronics, imported food—would be considerably higher. They also enable the “lean inventory” model used by large retailers.
With the growth of online commerce and global supply chains, the role of these ships is set to grow even further.
Mega container ships, such as the Ever Ace and Ever Given are icons of the modern era. Steel giants that cross the oceans with cargo that sustains entire economies. They not only connect continents — they also remind us of the world’s scope, complexity and dependence on maritime transport.
The next time you look at an imported product on a shelf, remember: it may have crossed the planet inside one of these sea colossuses.
This type of ship does not call at Buenos Aires due to the draft restrictions offered to this Port as to all ports on the Paraná River.
Photo mounted, serious ERROR the portainers for loading and unloading are on the ship, THEIR PLACE IS ON THE PIER