MSC orders up to 20 LNG dual-fuel containerships from Hengli Heavy Industries, marking a significant expansion in its fleet by 2029.
MSC has agreed to build up to 20 20,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships at China's Hengli Heavy Industries, reported Shanghai's iMarine. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2029.
Shipbroker MB Shipbrokers stated that the order includes option vessels, although MSC has not yet issued a comment. If confirmed, the deal would represent MSC's largest containership contract signed in 2026 and signify a deepening partnership with Hengli.
According to Clarkson data, MSC began collaborating with Hengli in 2024, signing contracts for ships ranging from 21,000 TEU to 24,000 TEU. Including the latest order, MSC has booked approximately 50 large vessels with the yard.
Public records indicate that MSC ordered ten 21,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel ships in September 2024, followed by ten 24,000 TEU units in December. In 2025, it added eight 22,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel ships to its order book.
Additionally, MSC has ordered eight 11,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel ships at Jinglu Shipyard, bringing its total there to 16, and four 5,000 TEU ships at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding. Despite speculation regarding a shift to mid-sized ships, ultra-large projects remain a priority for the company.
Beyond container shipping, MSC has expanded into the tanker market through a stake in South Korea's Sinokor Merchant Marine. Founded by Gianluigi Aponte in 1970, MSC operates 1,000 vessels and is in the process of transferring ownership to his son Diego and daughter Alexa.
Hengli Heavy Industries has secured approximately 170 new orders this year, lifting its order book to more than 330 ships. The yard is investing CNY13.5 billion (US$1.86 billion) in expansion to boost capacity to 22 berths, enabling the construction of 22 vessels simultaneously.
Shipbroker Simpson Spence Young forecasts that Hengli will deliver 80 ships in 2026, 120 in 2027, and 160 in 2028 as capacity ramps up.
