Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is being named as the buyer of a pair of 7,000-teu containerships.

The Swiss owner has reportedly bought the 6,966-teu Texas and Washington (both built 2009) in a deal estimated to be worth more than $50m.

MSC would not comment on the transaction, but European brokers reported the vessels as being sold for about $27m each, although they were estimated to be worth between $22m and $25m.