MSC becomes first liner operator to reach 1,000 ships worldwide

MSC first container carrier
Credit: MSC

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has become the first container carrier to operate a fleet of 1,000 vessels, reinforcing its leadership in global liner shipping. The milestone followed the delivery of the 11,480-TEU container ship MSC Migsan from Zhoushan Changhong shipyard, The Maritime Telegraph reported.

MSC’s total fleet capacity now stands at about 7.3 million TEU, placing the company far ahead of its nearest competitor, Maersk. The scale of MSC’s fleet alone is now comparable to the combined capacity of Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen and HMM, highlighting the company’s growing influence across global container trades.

The expansion reflects MSC’s strategy of rapid organic fleet growth since 2020. The milestone also comes as founder Gianluigi Aponte transfers ownership of the family-controlled group to Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte, marking a new stage in the company’s leadership development.

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