Norwegian technology company Kongsberg Digital has sealed a huge fleet digitalisation contract with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).
The Oslo-listed group said the five-year deal encompasses nearly 500 container vessels operated by the Swiss owner.
The contract calls for the delivery of Kongsberg’s data infrastructure service Vessel Insight and its Vessel Performance application to the entire MSC fleet
The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but Kongsberg said Gianluigi Aponte-owned MSC will be able to capture and contextualise data generated by sensors and control systems on their ships.
This will allow the liner giant to visualise and analyse the information both on board and through cloud-based applications.
The ultimate aim is to further reduce emissions and operational expenses on their vessels, the technology company said.
“We are proud to announce this agreement with MSC. Kongsberg Digital’s technology, expertise and services are in strong demand, and we are pleased to gain the trust of the world´s largest container line, MSC,” said Kongsberg Digital president Hege Skryseth.
“We are looking forward to further developing Vessel Insight and its wide portfolio of applications in close cooperation with MSC,” she added.
The delivery and installation of Vessel Insight will happen over the next year to 18 months, Kongsberg said.
Fitting anything to the entire MSC fleet is something of a moving target, however, as the owner keeps buying vessels.
TradeWinds reported this week that the company had acquired five more neo-panamax container ships from US tonnage provider Seamax Capital Management.
The liner giant is buying the vessels from funds managed by Seamax in a deal worth at least $300m, according to market sources.
The Geneva-based company is purchasing the quintet with forward deliveries over the next three years in what some observers regard as a vote of confidence in the enduring strength of the container market.
