GENEVA's Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's second largest carrier, is going to deploy a newly delivered 13,092-TEU vessel MSC Renee on its Asia-Europe "Lion" service.

This mega ship will replace the existing 11,660-TEU MSC Sola vessel, the last ship of less than 13,000 TEU on this string, reported maritime analyst Alphaliner. The "Lion" loop is a joint service with CMA CGM, the world's third largest carrier, which names it "FAL 7".

The MSC Renee was delivered to its Hamburg shipowner E R Schiffahrt in late May and is the seventh of the eight neopanamax containerships ordered in July 2007 at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) by Nordcapital, the fund raising company of E R Schiffahrt, according to Alphaliner.

Boasting the largest geared containerships, all these new WAF-max vessels are fitted with four cranes.