MPCC Orders Six 3,700 TEU Container Ships From Chinese Yard
Norwegian container tonnage provider MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has placed orders with China’s Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering for the construction of six 3,700 TEU container vessels. The newbuildings will be prepared for alternative fuels and equipped with advanced emissions-reduction technologies.
The first delivery is expected in the second half of 2028. Each vessel will operate under a ten-year time charter, with extension options, to a top five liner company, according to MPCC.
Investment Size and Financial Impact
The project represents a total investment of $292.5 million. During the initial charter period, the vessels are expected to generate approximately $479 million in revenue and around $288 million in EBITDA. Financing will be structured through a balanced mix of equity and debt.
New Joint Venture With Uthalden
MPCC also announced the establishment of a 50/50 joint venture with Uthalden. The joint venture will own two 4,500 TEU newbuildings that are currently wholly owned by MPCC. These vessels are chartered to a top five liner company.
According to MPCC, the joint venture will free up committed capital and optimize investment capacity, while allowing the company to partner with an experienced shipping investor. The joint venture is expected to finance the majority of the purchase price through moderate leverage.
Fleet Modernization and Asset Sale
As part of its ongoing fleet modernization, MPCC is selling AS Clementina, a vessel approaching its 20-year class renewal in 2026, for $24 million. Handover is expected to occur after the expiry of the current charter, towards the end of Q2 2026.
Strategic Outlook and Contracted Backlog
“2025 has proven to be a transformational year for MPCC,” said Constantin Baack, CEO of MPCC. He noted that with the latest order secured under a long-term charter with a top-tier counterparty, MPCC now has 17 state-of-the-art newbuildings on order, with deliveries starting in 2026 and beyond.
“These measures strengthen our strategic partnerships, enhance earnings visibility, and reinforce our commitment to long-term value creation,” Baack added. “As a result, our contracted backlog now exceeds $2 billion, providing exceptional visibility and positioning MPCC for sustainable growth and resilience in the years ahead.”
