IT IS 385 metres long, can carry more than 19,000 containers, and has made its maiden call to Southampton.

MSC Maya – the biggest container ship in the world – is just the latest giant container vessel to call in the city, and uses cutting-edge technology to make it one of the greenest vessels on the sea.

Bosses say the visit on Tuesday was a demonstration of the value of the new £110 million 500-metre berth at the container terminal, which was opened by Olympic sailing star Sir Ben Ainslie in March 2014.

Nick Ridehalgh, Associated British Ports Southampton director, said: “The arrival of the MSC Maya, together with our recent run of ultra large container vessels, is further evidence of Southampton’s ability to handle the world’s biggest ships.

“The port’s ability to handle these huge vessels, combined with our sector-leading service levels, will ensure that Southampton continues to offer a compelling proposition to the market and remains at the vanguard of deep-sea container capability.”