Oslo-listed tonnage provider MPC Container Ships (MPCC) is moving into a larger vessel segment with the $340 million acquisition of four 7,000 TEU containerships, according to Splash247 Maritime.
Fleet Expansion and Charter Backing
The 2023- and 2024-built eco-conventional ships are being acquired from an unrelated third party. Each vessel comes with a three-year fixed-rate charter to a top-five liner company, expected to generate $180 million in revenue and about $140 million in EBITDA, Splash247 reported. Delivery of the vessels is expected in October and November.
This deal pushes MPCC into a larger vessel class. The company's current fleet numbers 51 ships, with the largest being a pair of 2022-built 5,500 TEU units. The new 7,000 TEU vessels will become the largest in the fleet.
Additional Charter and Sale Transactions
In parallel, MPCC has fixed forward charters for two existing vessels: the 2,578 TEU AS Pamela and 2,200 TEU AS Anne. The charters are for 24 to 27 months and 30 to 32 months, respectively, with delivery into the new charters scheduled for the second quarter of 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2026.
MPCC has also agreed to sell two older, non-strategic vessels:
- The 2012-built 1,740 TEU AS Selina has been sold for $24 million, with handover expected after its current charter expires between end-Q4 2026 and early 2027.
- The 2007-built 2,130 TEU AS Angelina, approaching its 20-year class renewal in 2027, has been sold for $17 million and is expected to be handed over in the third quarter of 2026.
Financing and Backlog Growth
The latest moves lift MPCC's contracted revenue backlog to $2.2 billion. Charter cover stands at 99% for 2026, 74% for 2027 and 48% for 2028.
To finance 10 of the 16 newbuildings ordered last year, MPCC has secured a $375 million senior secured term loan underwritten by Société Générale. The lending group also includes BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, ING and KfW IPEX-Bank.
Splash247 noted that in December 2025, MPCC ordered six 3,700 TEU feeder containerships at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering, backed by long-term employment, adding to earlier newbuilding deals for 4,500 TEU and 1,600 TEU ships in China.
Implications for Container Shipping
The acquisition signals MPCC's strategic shift into larger, eco-modern tonnage at a time when carrier demand for fuel-efficient vessels remains strong. The three-year fixed-rate charters to a top-five liner provide revenue visibility and reduce spot market exposure.
| Metric | Before Deal | After Deal (pro forma) |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet size (ships) | 51 | 53 (net of 2 sales) |
| Largest vessel (TEU) | 5,500 | 7,000 |
| Contracted revenue backlog | Not disclosed | $2.2 billion |
| Charter cover 2026 | Not disclosed | 99% |
For freight forwarders and shippers, this deal may increase availability of midsize tonnage on major east-west trades, as the 7,000 TEU ships are often deployed on Asia-Europe or Transpacific routes. The sale of older ships could tighten the secondary market for smaller feeders.
Watch List
- Delivery of the four 7,000 TEU ships in October/November and their impact on charter rates in the 7,000 TEU segment.
- Further fleet rationalisation: MPCC may continue to sell older, non-strategic vessels to focus on newer eco-tonnage.
- The financing close of the $375 million loan and its terms, which could signal lender appetite for container shipping debt.
- Any additional newbuilding orders by MPCC following its expansion into larger sizes.
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