The world's three largest liner shipping companies are leading a fresh raid on the secondhand boxship market.

Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), and CMA CGM have snared ships they have on charter from Greek, German and Asian tonnage providers.

Danish carrier Maersk has picked up two 3,800-teu vessels for an en-bloc price of $109m, according to European brokers.

The high-reefer vessels belong to a series of six vessels acquired earlier this year by clients of Greece's Capital Executive Ship Management.