Mediterranean Shipping Company has added close to 400 secondhand container ships to its fleet since August 2020, the latest data from maritime consultancy Alphaliner shows.
Additional sources indicated that the Swiss-run line is operating 46 used vessel, but this figure remains unconfirmed.
The cited figure of also reflects MSC’s current order-book process – acquisition or awaiting delivery.
Since May 2023, the line has added 102 vessels to its fleet of secondhand box ships. These acquisitions represent a significant part of MSC's growth strategy.
As of early 2025, MSC operates a fleet of about 900 cargo vessels with a total intake capacity around 5.5 to 7 million TEU, depending on sources.
The line’s ongoing fleet expansion also comes at a time when maritime indicators increasingly confirm a hoped-for return of east-west vessel traffic to the Suez Canal, denuded of cargo since November 2023 when Houthi rebels in Yemen started attacking commercial ships.
The built-in capacity required by rerouting trade lanes around the Cape of Good Hope, served as a primary reason for MSC’s post-Covid fleet-expansion strategy.
MSC remains by far the most active buyer in the secondhand market, pursuing an ownership strategy aimed at reducing reliance on chartered tonnage and strengthening network capacity following the dissolution of the 2M alliance with Maersk.
The Geneva-headquartered carrier recently surpassed the 7 million TEU mark in total fleet capacity, comprising roughly 4.2 million TEU owned and the remainder chartered or on order.
Among MSC’s latest acquisitions are:
- Atlantica Pioneer (3,651 TEU), purchased from Atlantica Shipping for over $45 million, marking Atlantica’s exit from the sector.
- Irenes Resolve (3,799 TEU), acquired from Tsakos Shipping & Trading for around $23 million.
- Rio Kobe (3,534 TEU), bought from Marlow for $32 million.
In addition to its secondhand buying campaign, MSC also maintains a substantial orderbook of 123 newbuilds totalling more than 2.1 million TEU, reflecting its continued expansion across both owned and newbuild tonnage.
Despite minor discrepancies in reported figures, industry analysts agree that MSC’s fleet growth remains the most aggressive in liner shipping history.
