[2] The 286.45-metre (939.8 ft) long ship was built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering[1] in Okpo, South Korea in 2008.

Originally owned by Rio de Janeiro GmbH & Co KG, a subsidiary of Hamburg Süd,[2] she has had two owners and been registered under two flags.

The vessel is one of three ships of the Rio class built for Hamburg Süd by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in 2008.

[8][9] Rio de Janeiro had its keel laid down on 4 February 2008[1] at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering[1] in Okpo, South Korea.

[1] The height from the top of the keel to the main deck, called the moulded depth, is 24.2 metres (79 ft).