Last week’s delivery of the 2002-built MEXICO to MSC is historical. Unspectacular at first glance, the addition of the 4,992 TEU ship to the MSC fleet finally saw the Swiss ocean carrier of Italian origin claim the top spot among the world’s container lines.
Starting out with a German-built second-hand vessel of just 2,900 dwt, acquired from Hapag-Lloyd and renamed PATRICIA, MSC flourished and over the years developed into a massive group with diversified interests in liner shipping.
These include MSC, WEC Lines, Linea Messina, terminals (TIL), ropax ferries (GNV), fast ferries (SNAV), logistics (Medlog), cruises (MSC cruises), towage (MedTug), and other related fields.
On the day MSC moved to number one, its liner fleet counted 645 ships with an overall slot capacity of 4.28 MTEU, just 1,888 TEU ahead of Maersk Group, and clearly ahead of the Top 5 pack including CMA CGM (3.17 Mteu), COSCO (2.93 Mteu) and Hapag-Lloyd (1.75 Mteu).
Source: Alphaliner
