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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping,air cargo,rail transport |
| Founded | 1970; 55 years ago (1970)Naples,Italy |
| Founder | Gianluigi Aponte |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Gianluigi Aponte (Group Chairman) Diego Aponte (Group President) Soren Toft (CEO) |
| Services | Container shipping and logistics |
| Revenue |  €86.4 billion (2022)[1] |
| €36.2 billion (2022)[1] | |
| Owner | Gianluigi Aponte[2] |
Number of employees | 200,000+ (2025)[3] |
| Website | www |
Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., branded asMSC, is an international shipping line founded byGianluigi Aponte in Italy in 1970. The company is owned by the Aponte family with its headquarters in the suburb of Champel, Geneva, Switzerland, since 1978.[4] It is theworld's largest container shipping company by both fleet size and cargo capacity,[5] controlling 20% of global container capacity as of July 2024.[6]
As of March 2025, MSC operates about 900 cargo vessels with an intake capacity of 5,505,417 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).[7] MSC subsidiaries operaterail freight transport in Portugal and Spain,cruise ships, andcargo aircraft.
The company is independent and wholly owned by the Aponte family under the leadership of Diego Aponte. Diego was appointed president and CEO by his father and company founder Gianluigi in October 2014.[8] In December 2020, Soren Toft became MSC Chief Executive Officer.[9]
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Mediterranean Shipping Company was founded inNaples in 1970 as a private company by seafaring captainGianluigi Aponte when he bought his first ship,Patricia, followed byRafaela, with which Aponte began a shipping line operating between the Mediterranean andSomalia. The line subsequently expanded through the purchase of second-hand cargo ships. By 1977, the company operated services to northernEurope,Africa and theIndian Ocean.[8]
In 1978, the headquarters was established inGeneva,Switzerland.[10] The expansion continued through the 1980s; by the end of the decade, MSC operated ships toNorth America andAustralia.[8]
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In 1988, MSC entered the cruise business by buying the linerMonterey.[11] In 1989, they purchased Lauro Lines. The new company was named StarLauro Cruises and had 2 ships,Monterey andAchille Lauro.[12] In 1994, the company ordered its first newly constructed container ships, which were delivered beginning in 1996 withMSC Alexa. They were built by Italian shipbuilder,Fincantieri.[8] In 1995, StarLauro Cruises was renamedMSC Cruises.[12]
In October 2014, Diego Aponte (son of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte) was named president and chief executive of MSC, taking over from his father who was named group executive chairman. Gianluigi Aponte would continue to oversee all group related activities as well as supporting Diego in shaping the future of MSC.[13] In December 2014, the MSC shipping line were ranked number 6 inLloyd's List of Top 100 Most Influential People in Shipping.[13]
In January 2015, MSC launched the world largest container ship,MSC Oscar, with a capacity of 19,224 TEU. Built byDaewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and registered inPanama, it joined the Albatross service in January as part of the 2M VSA (Vessel Sharing Agreement betweenMaersk Line and MSC).[14] In June 2015Maersk and MSC signed a vessel-sharing agreement on the Asia-Europe, trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic trades. The agreement is referred to as the 2M Alliance.[15] The 2M Alliance includes 185 vessels with an estimated capacity of 2.1 million TEU, deployed on 21 strings.[15][16]
In February 2017, MSC purchased a 49% stake intoMessina Line, an Italian shipping Line founded inGenoa,Italy in 1929, specialised in intra Mediterranean short sea, andEurope to East and WestAfrica routes. The company owns 8Roll-on/roll-off vessels and a Terminal inGenoa port, on top of a container fleet of 65,000 teu.[17]
In October 2018, MSC decided to charter out the only twocar carriers in its fleet (MSC Immacolata andMSC Cristiana)[18] toGrimaldi Group,[19] replacing them on the service towardsWest Africa[20] with twoMessina Line –ConRO vessels:MSC Cobalto (formerlyJolly Cobalto) andMSC Titanio (formerlyJolly Titanio).[21]The swap of these ships, that were previously deployed on MSC Adriatic Trade in between the ports ofTrieste andİzmir,[22] results in view of a tighter collaboration between MSC and Messina Line.[23]
In July 2019, MSC launched the largest container ships in the world, the 23,756 TEUMSC Gülsün, built bySamsung Heavy Industries.[24]
In December 2020, Søren Toft became MSC Chief Executive Officer.[9] Søren Toft is the first person outside the Aponte family to become CEO. He would report directly to Diego Aponte, MSC Group President, and Gianluigi Aponte, founder and MSC Group Chairman. Søren Toft also became a member of the board of directors of Terminal Investment Ltd.[25]
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In January 2021, MSC was awarded the "Maritime Sustainability Passport" (MSP) Certificate and Seal by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA). NAMEPA's co-founder/executive director Carleen Lyden Walker stated that "By qualifying for NAMEPA's Maritime Sustainability Passport, MSC has demonstrated its commitment to stewardship of the environment, care for its employees, and responsible corporate governance".[26]
In April 2021, MSC launched a special shipping service to help the distribution of pharmaceutical products during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[27] In August 2021, Gary Keville Transport Limited obtained temporary High Court order lifting an embargo preventing it from collecting and delivering containers from Dublin port.[28] In December 2021, MSC was reported to offer at least 5.7 billion euros for Bolloré Africa Logistics, a subsidiary of theBolloré Logistics.[29] Later in December 2022, it was announced MSC had completed the acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics.[30]
In December 2021, acquired a 67% stake in the Brazilian domestic carrier Log-In Logistica.[31]
On 6 January 2022, MSC became the largest container shipping company in the world, surpassingMaersk, in terms of TEU capacity, according to the latest Alphaliner's figures.[32]
In 2022, MSC launched acargo airline,MSC Air Cargo.[33]
In March 2023, the company broke the record of biggest container ship in the world two times in a row by receiving the 24,116 TEUMSC Tessa mega container ship on 10 March and the 24,345 TEUMSC Irina mega container ship on 13 March.[34]
In October 2023, MSC acquired a 50% stake in Italian passenger rail groupNTV.[35]
In March 2024, it was announced the MSC subsidiary Shipping Agencies Services (SAS) had reached agreement to acquire a 42% stake in theLyon headquartered air and sea transport engineering and overseas forwarding and logistics company, Clasquin Group.[36] That same month MSC acquired theIl Secolo XIX newspaper group.[37]
In June 2024, MSC take a 15% stake in Genoa airport.[38]
In July 2024, MSC complete its $698 million acquisition of Norway’s Gram Car Carriers.[39]
In September 2024, subsidiary company Medlog acquired UK based haulier, Maritime Transport.
In October 2024, MSC acquired 56.47% of the Brazilian port and maritime logistics operatorWilson Sons.[40]
In November 2024, MSC acquired 49.9% ofHamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, theHamburg port main terminal operator.[41]
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MSC operates 524 offices in 155 countries with its headquarters inGeneva,Switzerland and has over 200,000 employees.[7] MSC's shipping line sails on more than 215 trade routes, calling at over 500 ports.[7] As of August 2023, it operates vessels with a capacity of up to 24,346 TEU, including the world's largestcontainer ships such asMSC Turkiye andMSC Michel Cappellini.[42][43]
Since 1989, MSC has owned the holidaycruise divisionMSC Cruises.[11]
MSC Cruises is thethird-largest cruise company in the world, afterCarnival Corporation & plc andRoyal Caribbean Group, with a 10% share of all passengers carried in 2025.[44]
In 2015, MSC started train operations by taking over the cargo division ofComboios de Portugal, and operates container trains over the Iberian peninsula.[45] Its rail operations have later expanded to Italy and beyond, under the nameMedway.[46]
In October 2023, MSC acquired a 50% stake inItalo.[35]
In late 2022, MSC launched avirtualcargo airline under the MSC Air Cargo brand, ordering fourBoeing 777Fcargo aircraft; revenue flights commenced in December 2022[47] and the second aircraft was delivered in July 2023.[33][48] Although MSC owns the aircraft and they are painted in MSClivery, they are operated under contract byAtlas Air.[48]
In August 2023, MSC announced the purchase of a majority share of Italian cargo carrier AlisCargo Airlines, which began flights in 2021 and previously operated four Boeing 777freighters.[49][50][51] AlisCargo suspended operations and voluntarily withdrew itsair operator's certificate (AOC) in 2022 due to declining air cargo rates, which made freighter operation increasingly uneconomical, along with the expiration of a temporaryEuropean Union Aviation Safety Agency rule allowing cargo carriage on the main decks of passenger aircraft.[49] AlisCargo had a new 777F scheduled for delivery in 2024 and applied for a new AOC; once the new aircraft and the AOC were obtained, MSC said that AlisCargo would be merged into MSC Air Cargo, and MSC Air Cargo will operate flights independently from Atlas Air.[49][51]
In May 2024, MSC Air Cargo announced that it had taken delivery of the fifth 777F and that independent operations would soon commence under the new Italian AOC.[47]
Terminal Investment Ltd. (TiL), is the port operator 70% owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Co, 20% byGlobal Infrastructure Partners and 10% byGIC.[52] It manages 45 port terminals on behalf of MSC.[53][54]
| City | Country | Port (Terminal) | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarhus |  Denmark | Port of Aarhus (Ominterminal new container terminal) | |
| Abu Dhabi |  United Arab Emirates | Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi Terminal) | |
| Antwerp |  Belgium | Port of Antwerp (MSC PSA European Terminal) | Joint venture between TiL andPSA |
| Ashdod |  Israel | Port of Ashdod (Ashdod South Port) | |
| Tekirdağ |  Turkey | Asyaport (Asyaport Container Terminal) | |
| Baltimore |  United States | Port of Baltimore (Sparrows Point Container Terminal) | |
| Bremerhaven |  Germany | Port of Bremerhaven (MSC Gate Bremerhaven) | |
| Buenos Aires |  Argentina | Port of Buenos Aires (Exolgan Terminal) | |
| Callao |  Peru | Port of Callao (Callao Port Terminal) | |
| Colon |  Panama | Panama Canal Container Port (PCCP Container Terminal) | |
| Fort Lauderdale | United States | Port Everglades (Port Everglades Terminal) | |
| Freeport |  Bahamas | Freeport Harbor (Freeport Container Terminal) | |
| Gioia Tauro |  Italy | Port of Gioia Tauro (Medcenter Container Terminal) | |
| Hamburg | Germany | Port of Hamburg (Container Terminal Altenwerder) | 49.9% of theHHLA port terminal operator |
| Hamburg | Germany | Port of Hamburg (Container Terminal Burchardkai) | 49.9% of theHHLA port terminal operator |
| Hamburg | Germany | Port of Hamburg (Container Terminal Tollerort) | 49.9% of theHHLA port terminal operator |
| Houston | United States | Port of Houston (Barbours Cut Container Terminal) | |
| İstanbul | Turkey | Port of Ambarli (Marport Terminal) | |
| İskenderun | Turkey | İskenderun Harbor (Assan Port İskenderun) | |
| Klaipėda |  Lithuania | Port of Klaipeda (JSSC Klaipedos Smelte) | |
| La Possession |  France | Port of La Réunion (Port Réunion Est) | |
| Las Palmas |  Spain | Port of Las Palmas (OPC Container Terminal) | |
| Le Havre | France | Port of Le Havre (Terminaux de Normandie) | 100% |
| Le Havre | France | Port of Le Havre (Terminaux Porte Océane) | 100% |
| Liverpool |  United Kingdom | Port of Liverpool (Liverpool2) | |
| Long Beach | United States | Port of Long Beach (TTI Long Beach) | |
| Lomé |  Togo | Port of Lomé (Lomé Container Terminal) | 50% |
| Montreal |  Canada | Port of Montreal (Contrecœur container terminal) | |
| Ningbo |  China | Port of Ningbo (Ningbo Gangji Terminal) | |
| King Abdullah |  Saudi Arabia | King Abdullah Port (National Container Terminals) | |
| Marseille | France | Marseille-Fos Port (Fos 2XL) | |
| Mundra |  India | Mundra Port (Adani Ennore Container Terminal ) | |
| Navegantes |  Brazil | Port of Navegantes (Portonave Container Terminal) | |
| New Orleans | United States | Port of New Orleans (New Orleans Terminal) | |
| New York | United States | Port of New York and New Jersey (Port Newark Container Terminal) | |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Port of Rio de Janeiro (Multi-Rio Container Terminal) | |
| Rotterdam |  Netherlands | Port of Rotterdam (Europahaven Container Terminal) | |
| San-Pédro |  Ivory Coast | Port Autonome de San Pedro (San Pedro Container Terminal) | |
| Santos | Brazil | Port of Santos (BTP Container Terminal) | |
| Seattle | United States | Port of Seattle (TTI Seattle) | |
| Sines |  Portugal | Port of Sines (Sines Container Terminal) | Joint venture betweenPSA and TiL |
| Singapore |  Singapore | Port of Singapore (MSC PSA Asia Terminal) | Joint venture between TiL andPSA |
| Trieste | Italy | Port of Trieste (Trieste Marine Terminal) | 80% |
| Umm Qasr |  Iraq | Umm Qasr Port (Basra Multipurpose Terminal) | |
| Valencia | Spain | Port of Valencia (MSC Terminal Valencia) |
| Ship class | Built | Capacity (TEU) | Ships in class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Daniela-class | 2008–2010 | 13,798 | 8 | |
| MSC Danit-class | 2009–2012 | 13,050–14,036 | 23 | 9 ships under long-term charter from Claus-Peter Offen |
| MSC Beryl-class | 2010–2012 | 12,991 | 9 | Long-term charter from Niki Shipping |
| MSC Alicante-class | 2011–2012 | 5,574 | 6 | Long-term charter from Claus-Peter Offen |
| MSC Benedetta-class | 2011–2012 | 13,100 | 8 | |
| MSC Olympic-class | 2014–2015 | 19,224 | 6 | MSC Oscar was theworld’s largest container ship when it was delivered in December 2014.[55] |
| MSC London-class | 2014–2016 | 16,652 | 6 | Long-term charter fromZodiac Maritime and Eastern Pacific Shipping. |
| MSC Lily-class | 2015 | 8,800 | 12 | Long-term charter from CIMC Financial Leasing.[56] |
| MSC Pegasus-class | 2016–2017 | 19,224–19,462 | 14 | Long-term charter from Eastern Pacific Shipping, Minsheng Financial Leasing and Ship Finance International |
| MSC Josseline-class | 2019 | 14,336 | 5 | Long-term charter fromZodiac Maritime |
| MSC Orion-class | 2019 | 14,952 | 4 | Long-term charter fromZodiac Maritime |
| MSC Gülsün-class | 2019–2021 | 23,656–23,756 | 16 | MSC Gülsün was theworld’s largest container ship when it was delivered in July 2019.[57] |
| MSC Bianca-class | 2019–2022 | 12.200 | 7 | Long-term charter from Seaspan Corporation. |
| MSC Fatma-class | 2022–2023 | 15,300 | 11 | Long-term charter from Eastern Pacific Shipping.[58] |
| MSC Jiani-class | 2023–2024 | 1.800 | 10 | |
| MSC Mara-class | 2023–2024 | 15,000 | 6 | Long-term charter fromZodiac Maritime and Cido Shipping.[59] |
| MSC Berangere-class | 2023–2024 | 15,500 | 4 | Long-term charter fromZodiac Maritime.[60] |
| MSC Ilenia-class | 2023–2024 | 16,000 | 9 | Long-term charter from Seaspan Corporation.[61] |
| MSC Chiyo-class | 2023–2024 | 16,616 | 13 | |
| MSC Tessa-class | 2023–2024 | 24,116 | 8 | MSC Tessa was theworld’s largest container ship when it was delivered in March 2023.[62] |
| MSC Irina-class | 2023–2024 | 24,232 | 6 | MSCIrina was theworld’s largest container ship when it was delivered in March 2023 a few days after the former record holderMSC Tessa.[63] |
| MSC Maputo-class | 2024–2025 | 7,700 | 6 | To be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries.[64] |
| MSC Ivory Coast-class | 2024–2025 | 8,100 | 10 | To be built by New Times Shipbuilding.[65] |
| TBD | 2024–2025 | 11,400 | 10 | To be built by New Times Shipbuilding.[65] |
| TBD | 2024–2025 | 16,000 | 6 | To be built by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co.[66] |
| TBD | 2024–2025 | 16,000 | 12 | To be built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.[67] |
| TBD | 2025 | 8,000 | 14 | To be built by New Times Shipbuilding.[68] |
| TBD | 2025 | 7,900 | 6 | To be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries.[68] |
| TBD | 2025–2026 | 11,400 | 10 | To be built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.[69] |
| TBD | 2025–2026 | 11,500 | 10 | To be built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.[70] |
| TBD | 2025–2026 | 21,000 | 10 | To be built by Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry.[71] |
| TBD | 2026–2027 | 10,300 | 10 | To be built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.[72] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 11,500 | 12 | To be built by Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry.[73] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 12,000 | 12 | To be built by Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries.[74] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 19,000 | 12 | To be built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.[75] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 19,000 | 6 | To be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.[73] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 21,000 | 10 | To be built by Hengli Heavy Industry.[76] |
| TBD | 2027–2028 | 22,000 | 6 | To be built by China Merchants Heavy Industries.[77] |
| TBD | 2028 | 21,000 | 6 | To be built by China Merchants Heavy Industries.[78] |
| TBD | 2028–2029 | 21,700 | 8 | To be built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.[79] |
| TBD | 2028–2029 | 22,000 | 6 | To be built by Hengli Heavy Industry.[80] |
| TBD | 2028–2030 | 24,000 | 10 | To be built by Hengli Heavy Industry.[81] |
Other ships:
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777F | 5 | 0 | Fourth and fifth aircraft delivered in early 2024.[47] |
2M Alliance was aMaersk SeaLand and MSC vessel-sharing agreement (VSA) launched in 2015 to ensure competitive and cost-efficient operations on the Asia-Europe, trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic trades.[82][83] The arrangement included a series of slot exchanges and slot purchases on east–west routes, also involved Maersk Line and MSC taking over a number of charters and operations of vessels chartered toHMM. The 2M Alliance included 185 vessels with an estimated capacity of 2.1 million TEU, deployed on 21 strings.[84][85] The 2M arrangement had a minimum term of 10 years with a 2-year notice period of termination.[82][83] On 25 January 2023, CEO Vincent Clerc of A. P. Moller – Maersk and CEO Soren Toft of MSC announced in a joint press statement that the two shipping lines would terminate the 2M Alliance in January 2025.[82][83]
On 24 November 1997, thecontainer shipMSC Carla encountered heavy weather and broke apart northeast ofAzores in theNorth Atlantic Ocean, when on route toBoston, United States, fromLe Havre, France. The 34 crew members were air-lifted by helicopter to safety.[86] The fore part sank over a period of five days. Thestern was towed to Spain where it was scrapped.[87] In 1984, the previous owners ofMSC Carla (her name wasNihon at that time) lengthened the ship by 15 metres (49 ft 3 in). This was accomplished by cutting the vessel in two and welding in a lengthening module. Thestructural failure was at the forward end of the new mid-body. The design and installation of the new structure by the shipyard was found to have been faulty.[88]
On 18 January 2007, the container shipMSC Napoli was abandoned in theEnglish Channel due to European stormKyrill after severe gale-force winds and huge waves caused serious damage toMSC Napoli's hull, including a crack in one side and a flooded engine room.[89] All 26 crew were picked up from their lifeboat bySea King helicopters of theRoyal Navy'sFleet Air Arm and taken toRoyal Naval Air Station Culdrose inCornwall.[90] On 19 January 2007, the ship was taken under tow but because of the ship's deteriorating condition it was decided to beach the ship atBranscombe.[91] On 9 July 2007 theMSC Napoli was refloated,[92] but was immediately re-beached as a crack measuring 3 meters (9.8 ft) was found in the vessel's hull, running down both sides and through the keel. The decision was made to break the ship up nearBranscombe beach.[93]
On 29 August 2009, the container shipMSC Nikita was involved in a collision withNirint Pride off thePort of Rotterdam and was breached in theengine room. She was towed toRotterdam for emergency repairs and subsequently declared atotal loss. There were no casualties.[94]
On 7 August 2010, the container shipMSC Chitra was involved in a collision with the bulk carrierKhalijia II while leavingJawaharlal Nehru Port east ofMumbai inNavi Mumbai'sRaigad district, India.[95]Khalijia II had ripped intoMSC Chitra's port side, creating three major dents in its hull and the engine room gradually flooded. After collision theMSC Chitra listed heavily and was grounded 8 km (5.0 mi) outside of the port. The captain and 32 crew members were evacuated.[96] On 17 April 2011, after the ship was declared a total loss,MSC Chitra wasscuttled by Titan Maritime approximately 385 miles (620 km) off the coast of Mumbai.[97]
On 1 January 2019, whilst on a voyage from Portugal to Bremerhaven carrying more than 8,000 containers,MSC Zoe encountered severe weather causing her to roll violently.[98] 345 containers went overboard into the North Sea near theWadden islands off the Dutch coast. Of these, 297 containers were lost north of the Dutch island Ameland, the remaining containers some hours later north of the German island Borkum.[99]
On 24 June 2021, the container shipMSC Messina caught fire in the midway of the Indian Ocean halfway between Sri Lanka andMalacca Strait.[100][101] The fire broke in the engine room of the ship, at 480 nautical miles (890 km; 550 mi) away from theGreat Basses Reef Lighthouse,Kirinda.[102][103]
On 16 October 2021, the container shipMSC Danit was boarded in thePort of Long Beach by theUnited States Coast Guard andNational Transportation Safety Board marine casualty investigators. They were investigating an undersea pipeline that appeared to have been damaged by a ship's anchor and recentlyspilled oil onto the beaches of Orange County. MSC and ship owner, Dordellas Finance Corporation, and others were designated as parties of interest in the investigation.[104]
On 15 December 2023, during theGaza war,MSC Palatium III was damaged in a missile attack byHouthi movement insurgents in Yemen as she transited the Red Sea.[105][106] She turned around and exited the area.[106] In a statement the next day, MSC said that the ship had been taken out of service, there were no injuries to the crew, and that the company would cease routing vessels through the Red Sea due to the danger of further Houthi attacks.[105]MSC Palatium III had been sailing under the Liberian flag and was not Israeli-owned, so it was not clear why she was attacked, but a U.S. intelligence analyst told theAssociated Press that the ship may have been deliberately targeted because MSC had cooperated with the Israeli government.[106]
On 13 April 2024 in theGulf of Oman, off the Emirati port city ofFujairah,[107] theIranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy boarded and seized container shipMSC Aries, claiming she was "violating maritime laws".[108] She was flying theensign ofPortugal.[109][110][111]MSC Aries is leased by MSC from Gortal Shipping Inc., an affiliate ofZodiac Maritime (ZM).[109][112] The 25 crew aboard includes 17 Indian nationals, Filipinos, Pakistanis, a Russian and an Estonian. Iran has similarly attacked vessels and seized ships amidst persistent political issues since 2019.[107] On 3 May 2024, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced that captain and crew had been released, while the vessel remained held by Iran.[113]
On 24 April 2024, theMadeira-flagged cargo shipMSC Vera Cruz, while about 72 nautical miles (133 km; 83 mi) southeast of Djibouti, was unsuccessfully fired upon, in tandem with U.S.-flagged container shipMaersk Yorktown, by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who claimed responsibility.[114][115][116]
In May 2024, the two shipsMSC Gina andMSC Diego were attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. There was little damage done.The former also had a similar incident in the previous month.[117]
In June 2024, Houthi rebels fired missiles atMSC Tavvishi and a couple of other ships, as they were sailing on the Red Sea.[118]
On 15 February 2025,MSC Baltic III ran aground close to theLark Harbour shoreline along the west coast ofNewfoundland after losing power in stormy weather. The 22 crew members were airlifted byCanadian Armed Forces members from103 Search and Rescue Squadron.[119] On 25 February theCanadian Coast Guard assessment of the hull has confirmed significant breaches and there was evidence that seawater is beginning to enter the ship.[120]
On 1 March 2025, while in port atOdessa, Ukraine,MSC Levante F was targeted by two RussianIskander-M missiles.[121] The missiles missed their target and struck the bulk carrierSuper Sarkas that was loading 21,000 tonnes of corn and soya. The container ship sustained minor damage, such as broken portholes, mainly from the impact of the shock wave, and left the port safely.[122]
On 24 May 2025, Liberian-flagged container shipMSC Elsa 3 capsized off the Kerala coast in India.[123] The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials such ascalcium carbide, and over 450 metric tonnes ofmarine fuel.[124] All crew members were rescued by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.[125]
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A shipment of illicit cocaine was captured in the2019 Philadelphia Packer Marine Terminal cocaine seizure that totalled 20 tons, with a street value of US$1.3 billion. That ship,MSC Gayane, was seized byU.S. Customs and Border Protection due to the scale of the smuggling. According toBloomberg News: MSC has unwittingly become one of the top (if not the top) cocaine distribution networks into Europe. The company denied doing this intentionally, instead blaming their own employees and the drug cartels who corrupt them.[126][127]
US and European authorities concluded that the smugglers responsible, who control more than half of the cocaine flowing into Europe, had infiltrated MSC's crews over a decade of effort. They were exploiting MSC's manpower and vessels to help build a cocaine smuggling juggernaut.[128] “We certainly didn't see MSC as a victim in all this,” said William McSwain, former US attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who presided over theMSC Gayane case.[126]
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