News / MSC defies Trump port fee threat, amid a flurry of orders for new feeder vessels

With long lead times at major shipbuilders, other yards that lack a track record in containership construction are now being considered if they can offer early delivery (around 2027).

This week, MSC has ordered three LNG dual-fuelled 22,000 teu ships at China Merchants Cruise Shipbuilding for delivery in 2027. The yard has never built containerships, but its relatively less busy orderbook means it can deliver on time.

MSC, with an orderbook now at 2.02m teu – 30% of its active fleet of 6.67m teu – will also have options for three more vessels, priced around $210m each.

MSC is clearly not fazed by US President Donald Trump’s implementation of hefty port call fees for Chinese-built ships. SVP Marie-Caroline Laurent said at Nor-Shipping this month that the fees would not deter the Swiss-Italian operator from ordering vessels in China, citing those shipyards’ competence in constructing energy-efficient ships compliant with environmental regulations.

Meanwhile, other recent newbuilding orders are for feeder vessels, amid renewed interest in the sector.

MB Shipbrokers said in its latest report: “In our opinion, the current demand level for feeder newbuildings is the highest seen in several years, where virtually all newbuilding demand has been focused on large-size tonnage. We hence expect to see a range of new orders over the coming weeks before the summer in the feeder segment.”

Greek owner Chios Navigation has made its debut in the containership segment, ordering up to four 1,800 teu vessels at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, for delivery between 2027 and 2028. And another Greek owner, Latsco Shipping, is close to ordering a 1,900 teu pair at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, also for delivery in 2027.

The vessels commissioned by Chios and Latsco are believed to be costing about $31m each, suggesting the ships will be conventionally fuelled.

Last week, it emerged that Belgian reefer specialist Seatrade had ordered a 2,800 teu pair at Huanghai Shipbuilding for delivery in 2027, and there are options for six more. Each will have 1,000 reefer plugs and be the largest in Seatrade’s fleet. The price for each is around $50m, depending on propulsion.

Finally, Indonesian feeder operator Samudera Shipping Line plans to return to Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding for more feeder vessels, having taken delivery of four from the shipyard in the past two years.