Israeli carrier Zim and German tonnage provider MPC Capital have agreed a $600m charter deal for six wide-beam container ships.

The New York-listed liner operator will take the 5,500-teu vessels on seven-year charters.

The vessels, due for delivery in May 2023 and February 2024, are under construction at South Korea’s HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC), formerly known as Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction.