MSC sees mega-vessel limit at 20,000 teu

Yesterday’s port call at Wilhemshaven in Germany of MSC Oscar, the first vessel from MSC’s fleet of 19 vessels of 19,224 teu, marks the introduction of even bigger ships. However, MSC sees 20,000 teu as the limit of the industry, the carrier tells ShippingWatch.

BY TOMAS KRISTIANSEN

Published: 09.03.15 at 08:56

With a capacity of 19,224 teu, the first vessel from MSC’s new mega-series, MSC Oscar, has already added another 1,000 containers to what seemed to be the record just a year ago. Sunday, MSC Oscar called in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on its maiden voyage, thus pushing the Geneva-based carrier some considerable steps up the ranking which will ultimately make it the world's biggest container carrier in 2016.

MSC Oscar will be followed by another 18 mega-vessels contributing a total of 365,000 teu to the entire fleet in 2015 and 2016, allowing the Italian-owned carrier to reduce its unit costs considerably. Per teu saving is expected to be approximately 25 percent.

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