Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) has become the world's largest container line by capacity, according to shipping analytics firm, Alphaliner, noting higher trans-Pacific volumes and fleet growth.

Figures released by Alphaliner on January 11 showed MSC replacing Maersk for the first time as the world’s largest container line — by 1,888 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Although both container lines account for the same 17% of capacity, MSC has 645 ships with a combined capacity of 4,284,728 TEUs compared to Maersk with 738 ships and 4,282,840 TEUs in capacity.

Completing the Top 10 are CMA CGM Group with a 12.6% share and 3.17 million TEU of capacity, followed by Cosco Group (11.6%), Hapag-Lloyd (6.9%), ONE (Ocean Network Express) 6.1%, Evergreen Line (5.9%), HMM Co Ltd. (3.2%), Yang Ming Marine Transport (2.6%) and ZIM (1.7%).

MSC has been expected to top Maersk as the top container line by capacity for some time with its aggressive newbuild orderbook and recent acquisitions of secondhand and chartered vessels.

MSC is set to further grow its lead over Danish shipping firm, Maersk, in the next few years with an orderbook of 66 newbuilds for an additional 1.09 million TEU in capacity or 25.4% of its current fleet. 

On the other hand, Maersk's orderbook is for 29 ships with combined capacity of 319,000 TEUs or 7.5% of existing. It's nearest rival, CMA CGM has an orderbook of 53 ships for a 476,121 TEU in capacity or 15% of current fleet. Cosco Group has an orderbook of 32 newbuilds (585,272 TEUs), and Hapag-Lloyd has an orderbook for 22 ships for an additional 415,120 TEU in capacity.

Meanwhile, ONE has an orderbook for 24 newbuilds (321,692 TEU capacity), Evergreen Line has 67 newbuilds on order (607,406 TEU in capacity), HMM has 12 ships on order (161,088 TEU in capacity), Yang Ming has an orderbook for five newbuilds (59,300 TEU in capacity) and ZIM has 33 ships on its orderbook with combined capacity of 310,520 TEUs.