MSC takes delivery of last of six 8,762-TEU vessels on charter

GENEVA's Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has taken in charge the MSC Anchorage, the last of six 8,762-TEU ships ordered in early 2011 at Hyundai Samho.

The ship is to be deployed on the shipping line's Far East-Haifa-US East Coast Golden Gate Pendulum, where she will replace the 8,540-TEU Seroja Lima.

The displaced vessel will be returned to her head charterer MISC Berhad, who has sublet the Seroja Lima to APL, and will be renamed the APL France in a few days for assignment on its Transpacific SAX loop, reports Alphaliner.

The vessels were acquired by Ofer Brothers and Schulte Group with the backing of an MSC long-term charter. They are also part of a group of 12 wide-beam ships, ranging in size from 8,762-9,000 TEU with a high reefer capacity (1,000 reefer plugs). The ships are to be deployed on the South America trades.

The last three ships in the series, the MSC Anchorage, the MSC Albany and the MSC Antigua were all delivered within a three-week period.