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Alphaliner: MSC is now the largest ocean carrier by operated vessel capacity

MSC expected to become permanent number one in 1H 2022, when numerous large newbuilt container ships are scheduled to be delivered to the carrier.
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Online shipping database Alphaliner on Wednesday (5 January) published a report on LinkedIn highlighting growth of the Mediterranean Shipping Company fleet:

January 05, 2022

Global ocean fleet statistics of Alphaliner show that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is now the world’s largest ocean carrier by operated container vessel capacity.

Some 52 years after its foundation in 1970, MSC, the long-term number two, today on 5 January 2022 overtook Maersk Group of Denmark as the world’s biggest container line.

As of today, MSC deploys a fleet of 645 container ships with a total capacity of 4,284,728 teu. The company therewith holds a global market share of 17.0%.

Contrary to most other major ocean carriers, which reached their positions in the top ten through a series of mergers and acquisitions, MSC’s rise to the top was entirely organic.

In recent years, MSC has shown strong growth, mainly through the phase-in of large newbuilt container vessels. Since 2020, the Swiss company has also grown significantly through the rapid acquisition of 128 secondhand container vessels: An unprecedented number in shipping history.

In the first quarter of 2022, MSC is expected to close its first carrier acquisition and buy a 67% majority stake in the Brazilian regional and domestic shipping and logistics firm Log-In Logistica. This will add a further ca. 15,000 teu of capacity to the fleet of MSC Group.

Starting out in 1970 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.

The Geneva-based MSC Group holds diversified interests in liner shipping (MSC, WEC Lines, Medlog, Linea Messina), terminals (TIL, MSC), ropax ferries (GNV), fast ferries (SNAV), logistics (Medlog), cruises (MSC cruises), and other related fields.

In December of 2021, MSC signed an agreement with the French Bolloré Group to acquire Bolloré Africa Logistics, a logistics provider and terminal operator in Africa on the basis of an enterprise value, net of minority interests, of EUR 5.70 bn (USD 6.43 BN).

With a confirmed vessel order book of almost exactly 1,000,000 teu, the largest of all carriers, MSC is expected to further consolidate its position as the world’s largest container line over the course of 2022.

An up-to-date overview of the largest container lines can be found online at https://alphaliner.axsmarine.com/PublicTop100/.

Background information

Some media outlets wrongly claimed that MSC has already taken the number one spot in late November or mid-December. Alphaliner dismisses these reports as incorrect. These sources typically ignore the time lag from the agreement to acquire a secondhand ship to the actual on-hire and delivery to the new operator.

Furthermore, some sources incorrectly reported that MSC had already acquired Log-In Logistica and the related vessel capacity. This is not true. The Log-In Logistica Board of Directors approved an unsolicited offer to acquire a 67% stake by MSC on 21 December 2021, but the actual takeover is only expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Similarly, the fleet capacity of Linea Messina (ca. 23,000 teu) is not counted toward the MSC total, since MSC only controls a 49% minority stake.

MSC is now the largest ocean carrier by operated container vessel capacity. This includes vessels under MSC ownership and vessels that MSC charters-in or leases from third-party owners.

Alphaliner consolidates the capacities of all operated vessels under company groups. For MSC this includes a small number of ships of the intra-Europe carrier WEC Lines, as well as a small number of vessels operated by Medlog.

In the first days of 2022 MSC narrowed Maersk’s capacity lead by taking delivery of further ships that it had already acquired second-hand last year. These include the 1,118 teu MSC ADA F (ex ADAM PEARL), the 1,087 teu MSC MANASA F (ex ALION) and the 2,732 teu MSC GIADA III (ex SCIO SKY).

The vessel finally making the difference was the 4,992 teu MEXICO which was until recently on charter to Maersk.

MSC had already bought this vessel from the non-operating owner XT Shipping in June 2021 for USD 50.5 M. The MEXICO arrived at Singapore anchorage on 30 December and was handed over to MSC a few days later. The 2020-built Panamax vessel will leave Singapore in the early morning of 6 January under her new name MSC MEXICO.

For a period of some weeks, the capacity gap between MSC and Maersk Group is expected to remain tight, so that daily fleet fluctuations from charter on-hires and off hires could – theoretically – see Maersk Group move ahead again for short periods of time.

MSC is however expected to become a permanent number one in the first half of 2022, when numerous large newbuilt container ships are scheduled to be delivered to the carrier.

 

Photo credit: MSC
Source: Alphaliner
Published: 7 January, 2022

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil jumped 671.7% to 40,900 mt when compared to figures seen in May 2024.
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June 16, 2025

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SG bunker performance May 2025

Bunker fuel sales at Singapore port inched forward by 1.1% on year in May 2025, the highest volume seen in 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.88 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,878,100 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.83 million mt (4,826,800 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 1.89 million mt (+8.6% from 1.74 million mt), 2.45 million mt (-7.2% from 2.64 million mt), 1,200 mt (from zero), 1,700 mt (-88% from 14,300 mt) and zero (from zero).

SG bunker port performance May 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in May (against on year) recorded respectively 40,900 mt (+671.7% from 5,300 mt), 95,800 mt (+97.9% from 48,400 mt), 700 mt (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from 300 mt). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,900 mt of deliveries in May.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 45,000 mt (-7.8% from 48,800) and zero (from 1,600 mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 16 June 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Panama bunker sales volume up 13.9% on year to 453,397 mt in May 2025

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.
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June 16, 2025

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RESIZED Panama

Bunker fuel sales at Panama increased by 13.9% in May 2025, according to the latest data from La Autoridad Maritima de Panama, also known as the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA).

Total bunker sales at Panama was 453,397 metric tonnes (mt) in May 2025, compared to sales of 398,964 mt during the similar period in 2024.

In May 2025, the Pacific side of Panama posted bunker sales of 368,419 mt; 213,589 mt of VLSFO, 117,297 mt of RMG 380, 1,538 of marine gas oil (MGO), and 35,995 mt of low sulphur marine gas oil (LSMGO) were delivered.

The similar region saw total marine sales of 323,084 mt a year before in May; with VLSFO sales at 184,761 mt, RMG 380 sales at 112,011 mt, MGO sales at 2,199 mt, and 24,113 mt of LSMGO being sold.

Panama’s Atlantic side, meanwhile, recorded total bunker fuel sales of 84,978 during May 2025; the figure comprised 63,318 mt of VLSFO, 8,575 mt of RMG 380, 1,987 mt of MGO, and 11,098 mt of LSMGO.

It saw total sales of 74,980 mt in May a year before; with VLSFO sales of 59,855 mt, RMG 380 sales of 6,508 mt, 1,545 mt of MGO, and LSMGO sales of 7,072 mt.

 

Photo credit: George Keel
Published: 16 June 2025

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Research

GCMD presents key learnings from ammonia STS transfer trial at Pilbara, Australia

Findings share operational recommendations for both bunker tankers and receiving vessels for ammonia bunkering operations.
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June 16, 2025

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GCMD path to zero carbon shipping

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Friday (13 June) launched its Path to Zero-Carbon Shipping – Insights from ammonia transfer trial in the Pilbara report.

The document captures key learnings from a pilot involving the ship-to-ship transfer of liquid ammonia between two gas carriers — the Green Pioneer and the Navigator Global — at anchorage off Port Dampier in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

The trial demonstrated that ship-to-ship ammonia transfer at anchorage can be both safe and practicable, provided that recommended safeguards and operational controls are implemented.

To share these crucial learnings with the industry, the report offers quantitative insights from executing the trial, forming a reference for future pilots and eventual commercial-scale operations.

The report offers:

Project background and objectives: An overview of the trial’s goals and operational context

Detailed safety studies covering four key areas:

  • Feasibility: Response motions and mooring analysis
  • Risks: HAZID and HAZOP findings and mitigations
  • Consequences: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plume dispersion modelling
  • Response: Emergency Response measures and protocols

Operation execution overview: A detailed account of the actual transfer operation, including the Joint Plan of Operations (JPO), assets deployed and a timeline of key events.

Optimising ammonia bunkering: Operational recommendations for both bunker tankers and receiving vessels, covering aspects such as transfer system setup, manifold arrangement, sample collection and more. A checklist of ERP resources required onboard is also included.

“In the past, bunkering guidelines took years to develop and were typically derived from experience with actual operations,” said Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD.

“In this case, guideline development is preceding actual commercial-scale operations, making it all the more important that these trials are as informative and comprehensive as possible so they can serve as a relevant reference for industry bodies in refining safe handling procedures, emergency response plans, and operational guidelines.”

Note: The full report of Path to Zero-Carbon Shipping – Insights from ammonia transfer trial in the Pilbara can be downloaded here.

 

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 16 June 2025

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