Seatrade Maritime: MPC Container Ships orders six newbuilds, forms jv

MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has contracted six 3,700 teu newbuildings at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China at a total cost of $292.5 million.

The first vessel is due for delivery in H2 2028 and according to MPCC the newbuildings have been chartered by a undisclosed “top 5” container line for a period of 10 years plus extension options.

The initial charter periods will generate revenues of $479 million and an EBITDA of around $288 million. The company’s contracted backlog now exceeds $2 billion.

“The vessels are based on the newest design, which optimizes speed and fuel consumption for regional and feeder trades, while keeping enough flexibility to shift between trade lanes as markets evolve. The vessels are prepared for alternative fuels and advanced emissions-reduction technologies, providing a design that can adapt to tightening environmental rules over the lifetime of the ships,” MPCC said.

The newbuilds are being financed through a mix of debt and equity.

“2025 has proven to be a transformational year for MPCC”, said Constantin Baack, CEO of MPCC. “With yet another newbuilding order against a long-term charter with a top-tier counterpart, we have in total 17 state-of-the-art newbuildings on order with deliveries from 2026 and onwards. These measures strengthen our strategic partnerships, enhance earnings visibility, and reinforce our commitment to long-term value creation.”

Separately the Norwegian company has established a 50:50  joint venture with Uthalden to own a pair of 4,500 teu ships currently wholly owned by MPCC. The vessels are on charter to a “top 5 liner company”.

Baack, added, “I am also pleased that we have further advanced on additional portfolio and financing initiatives, including teaming up with Uthalden, a trusted partner we have successfully worked with in the past.”

Additionally, MPCC has agreed to sell the vessel Clementina for $24 million, as the ship approaches a 20-year class renewal survey in 2026. The handover of the vessel to an undisclosed buyer will take place in Q2 2026 once the vessel’s current charter has expired.