The story
Inside MSC
MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company — was founded in 1970 by Captain Gianluigi Aponte with a single vessel trading between the Mediterranean and East Africa. Still privately owned by the Aponte family, it grew relentlessly through second-hand tonnage and, later, a huge newbuilding programme to become the largest container shipping line in the world.
Since 2022 MSC has led the global fleet ranking, and in 2025 it chose to sail independently rather than renew an alliance — leaning on the sheer density of its own network. Its newest ships, including the MSC Irina class, are among the highest-capacity container vessels ever built.
“The family-owned line that became the world's largest container carrier.”
At a glance
- World's largest container carrier by capacity and vessel count
- Privately held by the founding Aponte family since 1970
- Operates independently (exited the 2M alliance in 2025)
- MSC Irina-class ships rank among the largest boxships afloat