Why container-ship capacity does not equal carrier capacity

A question about very large merchant ships distinguishes raw hull tonnage from the specialized yards, labor, systems integration, and protected capacity required for carrier construction.

Question

If industry can build 100,000-ton container ships, why can it not build comparable surface combatants or carriers?

Short answer

Because the ships use different yards and specialized capabilities; merchant tonnage does not create the scarce naval facilities and workforce needed for a carrier.

Notes

The ability to launch enormous container ships does not automatically create the capacity to build comparable warships. The relevant commercial and naval hulls are produced in different yards, and carrier-capable facilities are scarce enough that their slips and workforces cannot simply be reassigned without displacing other programs. Industrial capacity must therefore be measured by specialized capability, rather than aggregate merchant tonnage.