The story of the CMA CGM Marco Polo
When it entered service in late 2012, the CMA CGM Marco Polo was the largest container ship in the world — the first vessel to take that title for a European carrier in years, and the pride of the French merchant fleet. Named after the Venetian explorer, it inaugurated CMA CGM's Explorer class and marked the moment the 16,000 TEU threshold was crossed in commercial service. A decade on, it illustrates something else: how quickly megaships age, as vessels half again its size now dominate the Asia–Europe trade it was built for.
Frequently asked questions
Was the CMA CGM Marco Polo the largest container ship in the world?
Yes — from its delivery in November 2012 with 16,020 TEU until the Maersk Triple-E class arrived in mid-2013.
How has the Marco Polo's efficiency evolved?
Its verified MRV data since 2018 shows the effect of slow steaming and operational optimisation on a 2012-built hull — a useful benchmark of how older megaships keep pace with newer designs.
Where does this emissions data come from?
All figures are official verified data reported under the EU MRV regulation and published by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).