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MSC set to eclipse Maersk as largest boxline in 2016: Alphaliner

MSC set to eclipse Maersk as largest boxline in 2016: Alphaliner
Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) could overtake Maersk Line to become the world’s largest container shipping company by 2016 according to analyst Alphaliner.

While Maersk has not placed any newbuilding orders in over three years MSC is undertaking a massive expansion in capacity. With MSC recently linked to two orders for 19,000 teu containerships Alphaliner its orderbook was over 610,000 teu compared to Maersk which only has 182,000 teu on order.

Recently MSC has been linked to an order for three 19,000 teu boxships at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) by China’s Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co. and Scorpio’s first foray into containerships with an order for three 19,200 teu vessels and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) with options for two or three more.

The orders and options combined with commitments for 34 neo-panamax newbuildings of 8,800-9,400 teu all for delivery in 2015 and 2016, could boost MSC’s fleet from 2.5m teu to 3m teu by the end of 2016.

“The massive capacity expansion could allow MSC to overtake Maersk, which presently operates a fleet of 2.77m teu,” Alphaliner said.