Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has acquired five more neo-panamax container ships from US tonnage provider Seamax Capital Management.

The liner giant is buying the vessels from funds managed by Seamax in a deal worth at least $300m, according to market sources.

The Geneva-based company is buying the quintet with forward deliveries over the next three years in what some observers regard as a vote of confidence in the enduring strength of the container market.