PUBLISHER: Container News (www.container-news.com)
MSC and CMA CGM are continuing to grow their fleets with second-hand vessel acquisitions and newbuilding orders.
MSC, already set to overtake Maersk Line as the world’s largest liner operator, was reported by brokers to have acquired the 2014-built 4,896TEU X-Press Jersey and the 2015-built 5,001TEU X-Press Guernsey from Singapore-based Sea Consortium, parent of X-Press Feeders.
The total reported purchase price of US$210 million is a new record for Panamax boxships of this age, according to Alphaliner.
VesselsValue also mentions that MSC is the reported buyer of two 2007-built 6,039TEU sister vessels, Long Beach Trader and Los Angeles Trader, which were purchased from UK owner Lomar Shipping for an undisclosed price, although the ships are estimated to have a current market value of US$77 million each.