Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest container shipping line, has placed a firm order for three plus three optional 22,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels at CSSC Haizhong Industrial’s Nantong (Haimen) yard, with a total contract value exceeding USD 1.2 billion.
Haizhong Industrial is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Merchants Industry Holdings, specializing in the design, construction, and repair of high-end offshore and green vessels. Its core portfolio includes FPSOs, large-scale LNG carriers, PCTCs, and luxury cruise ships. In recent years, the yard has delivered several world-first innovations in methanol dual-fuel propulsion and LNG shipping technologies.
This new order marks Haizhong Industrial’s first entry into the ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) segment, a milestone for the yard’s development. Industry insiders report that the firm order for three ships is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with three additional options included in the contract.
According to industry sources, MSC is pursuing an aggressive newbuilding strategy, having engaged nearly every capable large-container-shipbuilder in China. As per data compiled by Beyond Shipping, including this latest order, MSC has already ordered 62 large container vessels in 2025, all from Chinese shipyards. Key orders include:
10 × 21,000 TEU and 10 × 24,000 TEU from Hengli Heavy Industry
10 × 21,000 TEU from Hantong Ship Heavy Industry
12 × 19,000 TEU from Zhejiang Changhong International
6 × 19,000 TEU from SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding)
8 × 11,500 TEU from Penglai Jinglu Shipbuilding
According to the latest data from Alphaliner (as of June 27, 2025), MSC currently operates 923 vessels, comprising 629 owned and 294 chartered, with a total capacity of 6.657 million TEU. Additionally, MSC holds newbuilding orders for 125 ships, representing another 2.037 million TEU.
In short, fleet scale has become the most critical competitive moat in the container shipping sector. MSC’s swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded by Founder and Chairman Captain Gianluigi Aponte, demonstrated unprecedented strategic resolve, fueling an extraordinary fleet expansion.
