Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s second largest shipping line, has taken delivery of two new post-Panaamax vessels. The 9,403TEU MSC Asov is the first of three wide-beam vessels ordered in September 2010 by Germany’s Schulte Group from the Jiangnan Shipyard Co Ltd, at Shanghai’s Changxing Island, backed by a long-term charter to MSC.
MSC Asov and her sisters MSC Ajaccio and MSC Amalfi have the split superstructure known as a twin-island design. They measure 299m by 48.2m (19 containers wide) and have a 111,000dwt. The vessels have a reefer capacity of 1,000 containers and are to be deployed on MSC’s Far East-SAF-ECSA Ipanema service.
MSC Adelaide is the last in a series of six wide-beam vessels ordered from South Korea’s Sungdong Shipyard, two by the Greek owner Costamare and four by Zodiac Maritime, all backed by long-term charter to MSC.
MSC Adelaide and her sisters MSC Athens, MSC Athos, MSC Abidjan, MSC Agrigento and MSC Alghero are of the standard single-island design and have an 8,800TEU capacity with an overall length of 300m and deadweight of 110,875. These ships form part of a large order by MSC for ships of between 8,700 and 9,500TEU. AM
