Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will take five neo-panamax containership newbuildings on long-term charter from Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime.

The 14,300-teu vessels are scheduled for delivery from Hyundai Heavy Industries in the second half of the year.

The ships have been named MSC Josseline, MSC Jewel, MSC Faith, MSC Kelly and MSC Kanako.

Long charters

Terms and deployment plans have not been revealed, but it is understood that the charter periods could be in excess of 10 years.