MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Co's (MSC) lead at the top of the liner rankings is set to stretch to record levels, according to new analysis by consultancy, Sea-Intelligence.
It was at the start of 2022 that msc became the world's largest liner by operated container vessel capacity, surpassing 2M partner Maersk, which had been at the top of the rankings for more than a quarter of a century.
Since then, MSC has been on a massive fleet expansion charge, hoovering up secondhand tonnage and taking deliveries of record numbers of newbuilds, whereby its lead over Maersk today stands at 1.55 million slots, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Sea-Intelligence has projected what the top 10 liner rankings will look like two years from now, taking many aspects into account, including orderbooks, the carriers' typical approach related to redelivery of charter vessels and the sale of secondhand tonnage.
'MSC will grow their size advantage substantially compared to the second largest carrier - which incidentally will be CMA CGM, relegating Maersk to be the world's third largest carrier,' Sea-Intelligence stated in its latest weekly report looking at projected fleet sizes in April 2026.
MSC became the first carrier in the world to have a fleet in excess of 5 million TEU last May. By April 2026, it is projected to have a fleet with more than 7 million slots.
From next year, it will be going it alone on the main east-west trades, ditching its partnership with Maersk in the 2M alliance.
Cash-rich MSC has invested in many industries outside of its core businesses of cruise and containers in the last couple of years including in aviation, rail, media and logistics. Last week it made a US$700 million bid for Gram Car Carriers.
SeaNews Turkey
It was at the start of 2022 that msc became the world's largest liner by operated container vessel capacity, surpassing 2M partner Maersk, which had been at the top of the rankings for more than a quarter of a century.
Since then, MSC has been on a massive fleet expansion charge, hoovering up secondhand tonnage and taking deliveries of record numbers of newbuilds, whereby its lead over Maersk today stands at 1.55 million slots, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Sea-Intelligence has projected what the top 10 liner rankings will look like two years from now, taking many aspects into account, including orderbooks, the carriers' typical approach related to redelivery of charter vessels and the sale of secondhand tonnage.
'MSC will grow their size advantage substantially compared to the second largest carrier - which incidentally will be CMA CGM, relegating Maersk to be the world's third largest carrier,' Sea-Intelligence stated in its latest weekly report looking at projected fleet sizes in April 2026.
MSC became the first carrier in the world to have a fleet in excess of 5 million TEU last May. By April 2026, it is projected to have a fleet with more than 7 million slots.
From next year, it will be going it alone on the main east-west trades, ditching its partnership with Maersk in the 2M alliance.
Cash-rich MSC has invested in many industries outside of its core businesses of cruise and containers in the last couple of years including in aviation, rail, media and logistics. Last week it made a US$700 million bid for Gram Car Carriers.
SeaNews Turkey
