Swiss shipping giant MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has inked a contract with a Chinese shipyard for the construction of up to twelve new dual-fuel containerships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Continuing its robust investment in new vessels, MSC placed an order at Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries, a reestablished shipyard, for eight firm boxships. The contract also includes an option for four additional ships, as reported by Intermodal Shipbrokers.
Each of the 12,000 TEU vessels is estimated to cost $170 million, bringing the potential total value of the deal to over $2 billion. The specific delivery dates have not been disclosed.
MSC’s Growing Fleet Capacity
According to the latest Alphaliner Top 100 league table, MSC now boasts nearly 6.2 million TEUs in fleet capacity. The world’s largest container shipping company currently operates a total of 866 containerships, with 573 vessels under its direct ownership.
The data further highlights MSC’s 131 containerships currently on order, collectively representing a capacity of 1.9 million TEUs.
Last year, MSC made history as the first ocean carrier to surpass 5 million TEUs in fleet capacity. In a rapid expansion, the fleet grew from 4 million to 5 million TEUs within a year.
Expansion with LNG-Powered Vessels
In alignment with its fleet expansion strategy, MSC recently committed to 18 new LNG-powered containerships. The contracts, signed with two Chinese shipyards—Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) and Penglai Jinglu—include vessels of 19,000 TEU and 11,500 TEU capacities, respectively. Delivery for these units is scheduled between 2027 and 2028.
Additionally, MSC recently welcomed the first in a series of eight 16,000 TEU dual-fuel containerships, built by China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The vessel, MSC Maria Cristina, features a 13,000 cbm type B LNG fuel tank, noted as the largest of its kind globally.
