MSC
Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the world’s largest containerline, has single-handedly catapulted West Africa into Alphaliner’s list of the 10 trading routes with the biggest ships.
Earlier this year, MSC started redeploying some of its largest ships from Asia-Europe to cater instead for the fast-expanding Asia-West Africa market, something that has seen the average vessel size on this route jump 28% from 6,343 teu to 8,127 teu, with a further increase expected as MSC switches more of its 24,000 teu class fleet to this emerging tradelane.
In April, the MSC Diletta, boasting a capacity of 23,782 teu, became the largest containership to dock at the Port of Lomé in Togo. Shortly thereafter, the MSC Türkiye, with a capacity of 24,346 teu, made its inaugural call at the same port. These vessels, each nearly 400 m in length, have also visited ports in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Tema, Ghana; and Kribi, Cameroon, showcasing the region’s enhanced capacity to handle megamaxes.
“The volume of business and trade between Asia and Africa, particularly West Africa, is experiencing rapid growth,” MSC stated in a release last month, adding: “MSC’s bold move to deploy these 24,000 TEU vessels marks a new chapter for West African trade. As these giants of the sea become a regular presence, the region stands poised to experience a significant transformation in its economic landscape, unlocking new opportunities for growth and development.”
source:splash247.com
