ITALIAN billionaire and founder, owner and chairman of Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), Gianluigi Aponte's embarked on a historic fleet expansion in the 2020s, acquiring more than 400 second-hand box ships, and ordering more than 3 million TEU of newbuilds, pushing MSC to the top spot in the global liner leagues.
Online pricing portal VesselsValue has released its annual chart of the top 10 ship owning nations by total asset value, with Switzerland creeping into ninth spot thanks largely to MSC's container and cruise fleets.
Originally from Naples, Mr Aponte, now 84, founded MSC in 1970. His family is among the top fifty on the Forbes billionaires index, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Other notable changes in the annual national fleet value rankings from VesselsValue are at the top of the leaderboard. Whilst China retains the top spot in terms of vessel numbers, it has also taken the lead for the most valuable fleet, overtaking Japan while Greece remains in third spot.
In terms of gross tonnage, rather than value, the top 10 chart looks quite different. Clarksons Research data on global fleets - which does not include cruise ships - shows how China has stretched its lead at the top over Japan and Greece over the past year.
SeaNews Turkey
Online pricing portal VesselsValue has released its annual chart of the top 10 ship owning nations by total asset value, with Switzerland creeping into ninth spot thanks largely to MSC's container and cruise fleets.
Originally from Naples, Mr Aponte, now 84, founded MSC in 1970. His family is among the top fifty on the Forbes billionaires index, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Other notable changes in the annual national fleet value rankings from VesselsValue are at the top of the leaderboard. Whilst China retains the top spot in terms of vessel numbers, it has also taken the lead for the most valuable fleet, overtaking Japan while Greece remains in third spot.
In terms of gross tonnage, rather than value, the top 10 chart looks quite different. Clarksons Research data on global fleets - which does not include cruise ships - shows how China has stretched its lead at the top over Japan and Greece over the past year.
SeaNews Turkey
