Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has approached three shipyards for up to 27 containership newbuildings worth more than $3.2bn.

TradeWinds understands that the Geneva-based operator has signed letters of intent (LOIs) with two Chinese shipbuilders for 15,500-teu neo-panamax boxships.

Shipbuilding sources said MSC has signed LOIs with state-owned Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co and Guangzhou Shipyard Inter­national (GSI) for up to 10 vessels each.