MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is poised to expand its bulging orderbook with a newbuilding deal for 10 mega-size LNG dual-fuel container ships worth about $2.15bn.
Multiple shipbuilding sources said it has signed a letter of intent for the series of 21,000-teu boxships with China’s reborn shipbuilder Hengli Heavy Industry.
One shipbuilding broker said the vessels would cost about $215m each, and they will be delivered from 2027.
Officials at Hengli Heavy and MSC have been approached for comment.
Sources said the provisional contract is a follow-up on a collaboration between the two companies launched last month, when they signed a strategic cooperation pact covering areas including shipbuilding, engine manufacturing, ship repair and retrofitting.
The signing ceremony was attended by MSC founder and chairman Gianluigi Aponte, Hengli Group president Chen Jianhua and vice president Chen Hanlun.
MSC’s $7bn newbuilding haul
The Geneva-based liner giant is believed to have spent more than $7bn on 42 orders in August.
It has struck a deal with state-owned Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for six 19,000-teu newbuildings; up to a dozen 11,500-teu vessels at Penglai Jinglu Shipyard; a dozen 9,000-teu ships at Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard; and up to 12 boxships of 21,000 teu at Jiangsu Hantong Group.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network shows MSC has 127 newbuildings — 119 container vessels, plus passenger ships and cruise ships — on order in China, Europe and South Korea.
Hengli eyes fresh ship types
If MSC firms up the provisional order, it would mark Hengli Heavy’s entry into the large boxship segment. It would also be the yard’s first LNG dual-fuel newbuilding deal.
Some players said Hengli Heavy might be able to source the main engine from sister company Hengli Engine.
Last year, Hengli Engine entered a patent licensing agreement with MAN Energy Solutions to produce low-speed engines under the guidance of the manufacturer.
Previously known as STX Dalian, Hengli Heavy returned to shipbuilding in late 2022. STX Dalian collapsed and exited the industry in 2013.
Hengli Group will invest a further CNY 11bn ($1.56bn) to expand the Dalian shipyard.
Under the project, Hengli Heavy will have an annual shipbuilding capacity of 1.8m dwt, along with 1.8m tonnes of steel processing capacity.
The new facility will more than double its annual shipbuilding capacity to 7.1m tonnes.
