Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - Khorfakkan Port in Sharjah handled the MSC MARIELLA, a 24,346-TEU ultra-large container vessel operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), showcasing the port's ability to handle some of the world's biggest container ships.

The vessel is almost 400 meters long and more than 61 meters broad. Its demand comes as Khorfakkan Port continues to expand its container-handling facilities.

Gulftainer operates Khorfakkan's container port, which now has six berths spanning around 1,880 meters, a maximum draft of 16 meters, and 18 ship-to-shore container cranes.

The port's yearly handling capacity is now at 3.5 million TEUs, with plans to enhance it to 5 million TEUs, followed by phased expansions to 7 million and finally 10 million TEUs.

Khorfakkan, located on the UAE's eastern coast with direct access to the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, provides maritime routes linking Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Arabian Gulf, and East Africa without needing boats to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

The projected capacity increase aims to solidify Khorfakkan's status as a significant regional container and transshipment hub as shipping lines deploy bigger boats on international routes.