MSC Expands Fleet with Mid-Sized Containership Order
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is making a strategic move back into the mid-sized containership market by placing a new order at China’s Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard. Industry insiders report that the world’s largest container line has finalized contracts for at least two conventionally fueled vessels, with speculation that the deal could extend to as many as five ships. The first deliveries are expected in late 2028, marking a significant addition to MSC’s already extensive fleet.
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The new vessels will have a capacity of 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (teu). While pricing details have not been officially disclosed, brokers believe that MSC may have secured the ships for less than $60 million each. This pricing could indicate simpler designs, smaller engines, and limited reefer capacity. This order represents a shift in MSC’s strategy, as the company has predominantly focused on larger vessels, with the bulk of its current order book consisting of ships with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 24,000 teu.
Notably, MSC’s current order book is the largest in the liner industry, with over 2.1 million teu on order—approximately 30% of its existing fleet capacity. The company had previously ordered LNG-powered ships in late 2021, but market sources suggest that those contracts may have been quietly canceled. The last recorded orders for ships of 4,860 teu were made more than two decades ago, highlighting the rarity of such mid-sized vessels in MSC’s recent acquisitions.
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Despite its emphasis on larger newbuildings, MSC has actively participated in the secondhand market, acquiring numerous sub-10,000 teu ships over the past four years. This approach has helped the company bolster its regional and feeder networks. The recent Guoyu deal indicates that MSC is now aiming to diversify its fleet profile and incorporate modern mid-sized tonnage, which can effectively support trades where ultra-large vessels are impractical.
