Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has inked a letter of intent with China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group for 10 containership newbuildings of 12,000 teu worth $910m.

The order by the leading liner operator, which finalises contingency plans for an imperilled previous booking, covers seven firm scrubber-fitted vessels, priced at $91m each, with options for three more, market sources said.

The deal has been negotiated as a replacement for a series of boxships that Diego Aponte-led MSC fears might not be delivered from rival Chinese yard Jinhai Intelligent Manufacturing.