News / MSC continues fleet expansion with orders for four more box ships from China

MSC has procured more ultra-large containerships, as the second-largest liner operator continues its fleet expansion.

Brokers indicated that MSC had ordered four 24,200 teu ships, equally split between Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and Jiangnan Shipyard (Group), both subsidiaries of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

Each vessel will cost $150m and will be delivered at the end of 2023.

the order follows contracts for six similar-sized vessels in December 2020, two each from Hudong-Zhonghua, Jiangnan and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

As with those orders, MSC is reportedly financing the latest newbuildings through leasing arrangements with ICBC Financial Leasing and CSSC’s leasing unit, CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping.

MSC now has 4m teu in operating capacity from 172 owned ships and 427 chartered vessels, and Alphaliner says MSC has 40 ships, for 724,760 teu, on order, although it is not clear whether these include those procured through leasing or bareboat charter agreements with Chinese lessors and others, including Cido Shipping and Eastern Pacific Shipping.

Meanwhile, four 23,000 teu ships are due to be delivered from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering this year. In April, MSC ordered thirteen 16,000 teu ships from two other CSSC yards, Guangzhou Shipyard International and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company.

The Loadstar’s attempts to reach MSC for comment were not successful.