by Lloyd's List
27 November 2024 (Lloyd's List) - MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Co has completed the purchase of five containerships to bring its acquisitions of secondhand boxships in the past 18 months to 102 vessels.
According to Alphaliner, the world’s largest operator of containerships has purchased the 8,400 teu Northern Jaguar (IMO: 9466972) from German tonnage provider NSH Northern Shipping.
The 2009-built ship was bought for $52.5m.
It is one of a series of 10 sister vessels built by a South Korean shipyard for the charter market. Four ships from the series were purchased by MSC between 2021 and 2023.
MSC is also said to have bought the 23-year-old panamax Hongkong Bridge (IMO: 9224336) from China’s Bocomm International Ship Lease. The 4,252 teu vessel has latterly been operated by South Korean liner operator Sinokor.
Meanwhile, the 2,572 teu feedermaxes Lucie Schulte (IMO: 9301926) and Margarete Schulte (IMO: 9302944) have been picked up by MSC, from German non-operating owner Schulte Group. They were built in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Two additional feedermaxes have also been purchased by MSC in the past two weeks. They comprise the 2,826 teu, 2006-built, BF Tiger (IMO: 9303792) and the 2007-built, 2,702 teu, Najade (IMO: 9326706).
These latest acquisitions bring the total number of secondhand deals concluded by MSC since August 2020 to 402 ships with a combined capacity of almost 1.7m teu, according to Alphaliner. They range in size from 624 teu to 14,700 teu.
“MSC’s unprecedented acquisition spree of secondhand container tonnage has reached a new milestone, with the carrier hitting 400 ship purchases since it embarked on a historical buying spree amid the Covid pandemic in August 2020,” said Alphaliner.
Since May 2023, MSC has bought 102 secondhand boxships, according to Alphaliner data.
Shipbroker Braemar reports that the secondhand containership market continues to be busy with buying activity up across most size segments.
“As the charter market continues its rich vein of form, the sale and purchase market shows no sign of falling away,” said Braemar.
“While the conventional wisdom was that the market would fall away and suffer nervousness on the back of global tensions and economic struggles, the market seems to be something of an outlier at the moment with positive moves right across the board,” added Braemar.
In addition to MSC’s latest buys, a Chinese shipowner is reported to have purchased the 22-year-old Calliope (IMO: 9252981) from Greek tonnage provider Goldenport for circa $13m.
The sale of the 2,526 teu vessel is said to include an almost two years time charter at a daily rate of $19,250.
Other recent sales included the 2005-built, 1,118 teu, Vega Vela (IMO: 9306823) which has been purchased from German owners by a Middle East-based buyer.
