MSC at the Port of Long Beach in August 2019. Photo: Port of Long Beach
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has maintained its dominant position in the container shipping industry through an unprecedented buying spree of second-hand vessels, according to maritime analytics firm Alphaliner.
The unprecedented expansion has solidified MSC’s position at the top of Alphaliner’s liner operator rankings, with a fleet of 852 ships representing more than 6 million TEUs and nearly 20% of the liner market share.
MSC first overtook Maersk as the world’s leading liner operator in early 2022. Since then, the Swiss-based container group has continued its industry-leading fleet expansion, widening the gap over second-place Maersk, which is pursuing non-shipping growth as part of its strategy to become an end-to-end logistics provider.
In recent weeks, MSC reportedly acquired two more ships: the 1,440 TEU CAPE FLINT from Germany’s Schoeller Group and the 2,526 TEU JAN RITSCHER from Reederei Gerd Ritscher. The company’s summer acquisitions also included several medium-sized vessels, such as the 5,364 TEU EVER UNITY and five ‘classic panamax’ ships with capacities ranging from 4,173 to 4,713 TEU.
“All in all, MSC has now bought a mind-blowing 383 second-hand container ships in the last four years,” Alphaliner said in its report.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,187 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
By Alberto Nardelli, Jenny Leonard and Natalia Drozdiak (Bloomberg) — The US has warned its allies that Russia is targeting cargo shipping companies as it seeks to disrupt Ukraine’s partners, according...
By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – Undeterred by tough sea ice conditions in the East Siberian and Chukchi Sea, Russia has dispatched a conventional LNG carrier across the Arctic. Asya Energy...
By Lisa Baertlein LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 (Reuters) – A threatened Oct. 1 strike by dockworkers at ports on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico would immediately disrupt the flow of goods...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,187 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
