The world’s largest container shipping company MSC has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for ten LNG/dual fuel ships of 21,000 TEU capacity with Hengli Heavy Industries of China, according to a recent DynaLiners report.
The delivery of the container vessels is expected to start in 2027.
The Swiss-Italian box line appears to be continuing its aggressive newbuilding order spree, aiming to further solidify its position as the market leader in terms of TEU capacity. This strategic move comes as the company prepares for its solo journey following the formation of the new container shipping alliances set to take effect in February 2025.
New alliance formation intensifies battle between major lines
It is important to note that this is the first container ship order of the Chinese shipyard, which stems from the defunct STX Dalian and mainly focusses on dry and wet bulk carriers.