Norwegian container tonnage provider MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has placed orders with China’s Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering for the construction of six 3,700 TEU container vessels that will be prepared for alternative fuels and advanced emissions-reduction technologies.
First delivery is expected in the second half of 2028, with each vessel to operate under a ten-year time charter, with extension options, to a top 5 liner company, MPCC said.
With a total investment of $292.5 million, the initial charter period is expected to generate approximately $479 million in revenue and around $288 million in EBITDA. The project will be financed through a balanced mix of equity and debt.
The Norwegian company further announced a newly established 50/50 joint venture with Uthalden, which will own two 4,500 TEU newbuildings that are currently wholly owned by MPCC and will be on charter to a top 5 liner company.
“The establishment of this joint venture will free up committed capital and optimize the company’s investment capacity, while partnering with an experienced shipping investor. It is expected that the joint venture will finance the majority of the purchase price of the vessels through moderate leverage,” MPCC said.
In line with its fleet modernization, MPCC is selling AS Clementina, a vessel approaching the 20-year class renewal in 2026, for $24 million. Handover is expected to take place after expiry of the current charter, towards the end of Q2 26.
“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. As a result, our contracted backlog now exceeds USD 2 billion, providing exceptional visibility and positioning MPCC for sustainable growth and resilience in the years ahead.”