MSC Becomes World’s First Container Line To Operate A 1,000-Ship Fleet

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has become the first container shipping line in the world to operate a fleet of 1,000 vessels, according to data from consultancy Linerlytica.

The milestone was reached after the delivery of the 11,480 TEU MSC Migsan from Zhoushan Changhong shipyard in China.

With this, MSC has moved further ahead as the world’s largest container carrier. Its total fleet capacity now stands at around 7.3 million TEU, making it about 57% larger than its closest competitor, Maersk.

The company’s capacity is also nearly equal to the combined fleets of Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen Marine, and HMM.

The growth has been particularly strong since 2020, when the container shipping market saw one of its strongest phases.

Industry analysts noted that MSC expanded its fleet during this period mainly through organic growth rather than large acquisitions.

The container shipping sector is facing uncertainty linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which continue to affect global trade routes.

At the same time, MSC has confirmed a leadership change within the company. Founder Gianluigi Aponte, now 85, has transferred ownership of the business to his son Diego Aponte and daughter Alexa Aponte.

Both are Italian nationals raised in Switzerland and currently based there. Aponte will continue to serve as executive chairman of the group.

The company was founded in 1970 in Naples and has since grown into a global shipping group. It now has 675 offices across 155 countries.

MSC operates on 300 trade routes, calling at more than 520 ports worldwide, and carries around 30 million TEU every year.

The MSC Group, including its cruise business and logistics operations, employs about 200,000 people. According to Alphaliner data, the global container shipping fleet has also reached new levels.

As of April 14, 2026, there are 7,528 active container ships worldwide with a total capacity of 34,031,275 TEU.

Out of these, 6,715 are fully cellular vessels, accounting for 33,610,085 TEU. Earlier figures also showed 6,706 vessels in operation with a combined capacity of 33.6 million TEU.

MSC’s operations now go beyond container shipping and include inland transport, logistics, and terminal activities, along with its passenger business.

References: indiaseatradenews, shippingtelegraph