MSC in for more Hengli megamaxes

Gianluigi Aponte’s Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has returned to Hengli Heavy Industry for a new series of LNG dual-fuel megamax containerships.

Shipbuilding sources in China report the Swiss-based liner giant has signed up for six 22,000 teu newbuilds at the yard formerly known as STX Dalian.

Soren Toft-led MSC and Hengli Heavy signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement last year, which has already seen 20 ships booked for construction, spread into a series of ten 21,000 teu and 24,000 teu each, costing about $215m and $230m per ship, respectively.

Financial terms and delivery dates for the 22,000 teu newbuilds have not been divulged.

The world’s largest container carrier has a fleet of about 6.51m teu, commanding around a 20% share of the global operated fleet. The company’s massive orderbook stands at more than 130 ships, which should boost the fleet by over 2m slots in the coming years.

Earlier this year, MSC also returned to Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard in China for four firm 21,700 teu newbuilds with options for up to four more vessels at $220m each and deliveries set for 2027 and 2028.