MSC Orders Ten LNG Dual-Fuel Vessels in China

Switzerland-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest container shipping company, has ordered ten more liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel vessels in China.

The shipowner placed an order for the ten 24,000 TEU units at Hengli Heavy Industries, Dalian, China, according to data provided by Greek Intermodal Shipbrokers.

As informed, the eco-friendly boxships are slated for delivery between 2028 and 2030.

The price tag for the containership fleet has not been disclosed.

In September this year, MSC reportedly booked a similar batch of ten 21,000 TEU container vessels at the aforementioned shipyard.

In 2024, the Swiss giant ordered a number of dual-fuel containerships in China, spending billions of US dollars.

MSC’s massive fleet expansion is likely prompted by the need to invest in decarbonization by replacing the aging part of its fleet as well as to retain its global position and scale further.

MSC Fleet Expansion and Industry Trends

According to Alphaliner’s TOP 100 list, the MSC fleet currently comprises 880 vessels, of which 586 are owned and 294 chartered. What is more, the company has 131 ships on order, with more than 2 million TEU capacity.

Reflecting on the global containership orderbook, Veson Nautical recently shared that there has been a huge rise in orders for dual-fuel vessels over the last six years. This trend is said to be particularly evident in the container shipping sector.

Furthermore, the shipping association BIMCO said that shipyards’ deliveries of containerships reached a new annual record, with more than 410 ships with a capacity of more than 2.5 million TEU delivered in 2024.