Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is moving back into the mid-sized containership segment with a fresh newbuilding order at China’s Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard.
Market sources say the world’s largest containerline has signed firm contracts for at least two conventionally fuelled 5,000 teu vessels, with some brokers suggesting the deal could already cover as many as five ships including options.
The first units are slated for delivery in the second half of 2028, with further vessels expected to follow later that year or in early 2029.
Pricing remains unconfirmed, but some brokers believe MSC has secured the deal below the $60m mark, with Alphalner suggesting it could potentially point to relatively simple designs with smaller engines and limited reefer capacity.
MSC currently holds the liner industry’s largest orderbook, with more than 2.1m teu on order — equivalent to nearly 30% of its existing fleet capacity. Almost all of its 120 ships on order are for vessels of 10,000 teu and above, ranging up to 24,000 teu.
The exception dates back to late 2021, when MSC ordered 3,700 teu LNG-powered ships, contracts that market sources say may since have been quietly cancelled, while orders for 4,860 teu ships were last recorded over two decades ago.
Despite its focus on large newbuildings, MSC has been an active buyer in the secondhand market, snapping up a significant number of sub-10,000 teu ships over the past four years to bulk up regional and feeder networks. The Guoyu deal suggests MSC is now looking to balance its fleet profile, adding modern mid-sized tonnage to support trades where ultra-large ships are less practical.
