News / MSC buys controlling stake in Ukraine's Yuzhny box terminal

Photo: Lesik Aleksandr, Dreamstime.com

MSC is reported to have expanded its European port network this week, acquiring a majority stake in Ukraine’s Transinvestservice Container Terminal (TIS), the box facility at the port of Yuzhny, also known as Pivdennyi.

Alphaliner this week reported that the world’s largest container shipping line had acquired a 51% stake in the facility.

“Alphaliner understands the TIS deal has been finalised, but remains subject to confirmation.

“So far, a transaction price has not been reported,” the analyst wrote.

The facility was a joint-venture between DP World and local operator Transinvestservice, on a 51%-49% ownership split, established in 2020. However, Alphaliner said the Dubai-headquartered operator had departed the operation, and there is no mention of the Ukrainian facility in DP World’s latest port network map.

“Alphaliner believes DP World made a quiet exit from TIS earlier this year, selling its stake, as well as the related local tugboat operations, back to Transinvestservice,” said the analyst. “This suggests MSC has likely acquired its stake in the Pivdennyi terminal from TIS.”

If confirmed, the deal would mean MSC has added a second box terminal to its Ukrainian portfolio, as last year’s 49% acquisition of Germany’s HHLA gave it partial ownership of Container Terminal Odessa, the country’s main box gateway.

Rail-connected TIS has 560 metres of berth with a draught of 14.7 metres, and has an annual handling capacity of around 600,000 teu.

However, container traffic at the port has been difficult to quantify since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Alphaliner noted.

“In reality, only a single berth of around 250 metres appears to be in use for containers, while the remainder of the site currently receives bulk vessels,” it said. “Limited volumes of containers, nevertheless, appear to be loaded and discharged at Pivdennyi, though actual ship movements are hard to track.

“Given the high risk near the war zone, many ships in the region ‘go dark’ and switch off their AIS transponders,” it added.