Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has continued its remarkable spending spree in the secondhand market by hoovering up at least three additional boxships.

The Geneva-based liner company is forking out $23m to acquire three sub-panamax containerships, according to brokers.

This takes its tally of secondhand acquisitions since August to about 30 ships — and counting.

The latest acquisitions include the 1,860-teu Acacia Makoto (built 2004), which is said to have been bought for $6.5m from Chinese owners Goto Shipping.

The 1,728-teu Voronezh (built 2008) has been purchased from Far Eastern Shipping (Fesco) for $9m, according to VesselsValue.

Also, the 1,732-teu RHL Aurora (built 2006) has been acquired from German owner Reederei Hamburger Lloyd for just under $7m.

Some sources have also linked MSC to the purchase of four feeder containerships recently offloaded by Oslo-based Atlantica Shipping.

The Voronezh has reportedly been bought by Mediterranean Shipping Co. Photo: Tvabutzku1234/MarineTraffic

Atlantica chief executive Johan Werner confirmed that his company has sold the 1,730-teu Miro (built 1998), Spero, Polo and Charlie (all built 2002).

He did not disclose who the buyers were, although some sources have said MSC is paying $6m each for the vessels.

TradeWinds has requested comment from MSC.

Active player

MSC, which embarked on a purchasing spree in September, has been the most active player in the boxship sale-and-purchase market for the past six months.

The liner giant began by acquiring mostly larger tonnage, including six ships of between 7,500 teu and 8,500 teu from the German market.

The company followed that up this year with a second buying spree — this time a shift in focus to smaller vessels of between 1,100 teu and 2,765 teu.

MSC has bought at least 27 vessels worth almost $400m in the past few months, as it has sought to charter and buy ships rather than order newbuildings, Germany’s KfW Ipex-Bank reported.

“On the one hand, this contradicts efforts aiming at higher environmental standards,” the bank said, adding that this has had “a positive influence on the supply-demand balance”.

Moved fast

Liner companies such as MSC and Wan Hai Lines have moved fast to acquire relatively cheap secondhand ships at a time when charter rates have surged.

Moreover, the risk of purchasing older vessels is low, with brokers saying the fallback option is scrapping ships if the market slumps.

But the appetite of liner operators has helped push up secondhand prices.

Clarksons' Containership Secondhand Price Index rose to 44 points at the end of January, which, barring a short spell in the middle of 2018, is the highest level seen in more a decade.

The shipbroker estimates the price of a five-year-old, 2,750-teu eco-vessel stood at $22m — up 10% over a month to the end of January.

The price of a 10-year-old, 6,600-teu boxship rose 15% over the same period to $39m.

In other unconfirmed sales, the 3,390-teu Sphene (built 2007) is reported sold to Tsakos Shipping & Trading of Greece by interests linked to the Schulte Group.

Trond Lillestolen contributed to this story.