MSC has returned to Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard for more newbuildings.
The Swiss/Italian carrier, which displaced Maersk Line as the largest liner operator in 2022, has commissioned ten LNG dual-fuelled 10,300 TEU container ships, Zhoushan Changhong announced today (9 August).
These newbuildings are expected to be delivered from the second half of 2026 until 2027.
In December 2022, MSC had ordered ten LNG dual-fuelled 11,500 TEU container vessels at the same shipyard, for delivery between 2025 and 2026.
Zhoushan Changhong said that like the earlier order, MSC’s latest newbuildings are based on China International Marine Containers’ (CIMC) Ocean Engineering Design & Research Institute’s design, which includes the largest type-C LNG fuel storage tank, enabling the ships to complete a single round trip on China-Europe or China-US routes.
The latest orders show that MSC is still optimistic about LNG propulsion. Although many mainline operators, including Maersk Line and CMA CGM, have commissioned a large number of methanol-powered container ships since 2022, MSC’s newbuildings are primarily LNG-powered.
According to Clarksons’ data, among the 74 container ship newbuildings that were directly ordered by MSC, at least 60 are mid-sized and large LNG-powered vessels. The other 14 vessels, which are feeder ships, are conventionally powered by fuel oil.
Alphaliner shows that MSC now operates 774 ships of over 5.2 million TEUs, including 276 owned vessels of 2.48 million TEUs. The Swiss-Italian operator has 116 ships of over 1.44 million TEUs on order, including vessels committed to long period charters from tonnage providers.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
