SWISS-ITALIAN Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has continued its newbuilding spree with an order at Hengli Heavy Industry, reports Singapore Splash 247.

Gianluigi Aponte's shipping line has signed up for a series of 10 LNG dual-fuelled containerships of 21,000 TEU with deliveries likely in 2027.

No value has been placed behind the deal, which could, according to the latest shipbuilding trends, top US$2.5 billion and follows a strategic cooperation framework agreement on a wide range of areas, including newbuilds, engine manufacturing, ship repair, and vessel retrofitting the duo inked in August.

MSC, led by Soren Toft, has a fleet in excess of six million TEU, commanding a 20 per cent share of the global operated container fleet.

The world's largest containerline has inked multiple large orders across Chinese shipyards this summer, and before the latest deal, the company's massive orderbook stood at about 130 ships, which according to Alphaliner figures was projected to boost the fleet by an additional 1.8 million slots in the coming years.

In related boxship newbuild news, brokers suggest German liner Hapag Lloyd is lining up a series of 9,000-TEU and 17,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels at yards in China with a letter of intent on the cards in the fourth quarter, while an unnamed Greek owner is in talks for 16,000-TEU newbuilds in South Korea for delivery in 2027.

https://www.shippingazette.com/news?news_id=9240900000711