The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is now largest ocean carrier by operated vessel capacity

Global ocean fleet statistics of Alphaliner show that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is now the world's largest ocean carrier by operated container vessel capacity.

Some 52 years after its foundation in 1970, MSC, the long-term number two, today on 5 January 2022 overtook Maersk Group of Denmark as the world's biggest container line.

As of today, MSC deploys a fleet of 645 container ships with a total capacity of 4,284,728 teu. The company therewith holds a global market share of 17.0%.

Contrary to most other major ocean carriers, which reached their positions in the top-ten through series of mergers and acquisitions, MSC's rise to the top was entirely organic.

In recent years, MSC has shown a strong growth, mainly through the phase-in of large newbuilt container vessels. Since 2020, the Swiss company has also grown significantly through the rapid acquisition of 128 secondhand container vessels: An unprecedented number in shipping history.

In the first quarter of 2022, MSC is expected to close its first carrier acquisition and buy a 67% majority stake in the Brazilian regional and domestic shipping and logistics firm Log-In Logistica. This will add a further ca. 15,000 teu of capacity to the fleet of MSC Group.

Starting out in 1970 with a German-built second-hand vessel of just 2,900 dwt, acquired from Hapag-Lloyd and renamed PATRICIA, MSC flourished and over the years developed into a massive group.

The Geneva-based MSC Group holds diversified interests in liner shipping (MSC, WEC Lines, Medlog, Linea Messina), terminals (TIL, MSC), ropax ferries (GNV), fast ferries (SNAV), logistics (Medlog), cruises (MSC cruises), and other related fields.

In December of 2021, MSC signed an agreement with the French Bolloré Group to acquire Bolloré Africa Logistics, a logistics provider and terminal operator in Africa on the basis of an enterprise value, net of minority interests, of EUR 5.70 bn (USD 6.43 BN).

With a confirmed vessel order book of almost exactly 1,000,000 teu, the largest of all carriers, MSC is expected to further consolidate its position as the world's largest container line over the course of 2022.

An up-to-date overview of the largest container lines can be found online at https://alphaliner.axsmarine.com/PublicTop100/.

Source: Alphaliner

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