Beijing-based China Construction Bank Financial Leasing (CCB FL) and Shanghai-headquartered China Merchants Bank Financial Leasing (CMB FL) have emerged as the owners of the world’s two largest containerships.
But which one is actually bigger is a question for the experts.
Both will sail under long-term charters to Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).
The recently delivered 23,656-teu MSC Mina (built 2019) is part of a series on order at South Korea's DSME and is now heading for a presumed port call in Singapore. Those are the details provided by fleet analysts at VesselsValue, but the cell counters at IHS Maritime knock the ship's capacity down to about 23,000 teu.
Rival South Korean yard Samsung Heavy Industries delivered the record-breaking, 23,756-teu MSC Gulsun (built 2019) last month.
The ship is the first of a series of six on order for the Swiss liner giant at the same yard. However, these details were given in the builder’s press release.
VesselsValue rates the MSC Gulsun’s capacity as a mere 22,960 teu, while IHS Maritime agrees with the yard’s figure.
Financial sources said the ships at both yards have been financed by multiple Chinese state-owned leasing houses that shared in backing the deal.
Officials of the two leasing houses were not immediately available for comment.
The fleet of ultra large containerships of around 23,000 teu delivered or on order stands at 22 vessels, according to VesselsValue.
