The large container ship MSC "Montaigne" arrived at the Haifa Gulf Port yesterday carrying about 15 containers, a quantity approaching the maximum capacity the ship can carry. The 366-meter-long ship is expected to unload more than 3,000 containers at the port and continue on its way within two days.
Giant ship in Gulf port – more than 3,000 containers to unload
The container ship MSC "Monteyne", one of the largest cargo ships calling at the coast of Israel, docked yesterday (Monday, November 9, 2026) at the Gulf Port in Haifa. The ship arrived loaded with approximately 15,000 containers, a quantity that roughly represents its maximum capacity. This is an impressive ship in its dimensions, reaching 366 meters in length. During its stay at the Gulf Port, the ship will unload more than 3,000 containers, but will not take any containers with it from the port. The ship is expected to continue on its way to its next destination within two days.
A new ship with its home port in Liberia
The MSC Montaigne was built in 2023, making it a relatively new vessel. The ship's home port is registered in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. The arrival of a ship of this size at the Gulf port indicates the port's operational capacity to accommodate particularly large vessels and unload thousands of containers. The fact that the ship only unloads containers without reloading containers indicates that this is mainly an import shipment to Israel as part of its sailing route.
MSC SALERNO, of the same dimensions, was built in 2025 (newer) and with 16,500 containers, arrived in August.
The question is, what is the news story here?
After all, container ships enter and leave ports all the time.
What does it matter to us how much it will unload and for how long? Is it relevant to Haifa?