Move over Maersk!

The world’s two largest container shipping lines – Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – could swap places by 2016, according to Alphaliner, with MSC taking first position.

The prediction is based on new build orders placed by the two.  While Maersk is taking delivery of its 20 ‘Triple-E’ 18,000 teu ultra large container vessels (ULCVs), ordered ahead of the global economic downturn and with final delivery of all these ships expected in 2015, it has not placed any orders for new vessels over the past three years.

In contrast, Swiss-based MSC has embarked on a massive fleet expansion plan, with orders that will increase its teu capacity by over 610,000; this compares with a 182,000 teu capacity increase for the Danish line.