Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) is the world’s largest container shipping company, founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte in Naples, Italy. The company is now headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and remains fully owned by the Aponte family. MSC operates in more than 155 countries through a network of 524 offices and employs over 200,000 people globally. The company maintains a container fleet with a total capacity exceeding 5.6 million TEUs, accounting for approximately 20% of global capacity. MSC serves more than 500 ports worldwide and operates over 730 vessels, including some of the largest container ships in operation, such as the MSC Turkiye and MSC Michel Cappellini. The company’s primary trade lanes span Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. MSC has also diversified into intermodal rail services and air cargo through MSC Air Cargo, enhancing its integrated logistics capabilities across multiple transport modes.
About MSC Shipping
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) operates in more than 155 countries, supported by a network of 524 offices and over 200,000 employees. The company connects over 500 ports worldwide through a network of 215 global trade routes, delivering one of the most extensive container shipping services available globally.
MSC’s fleet includes ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) with capacities exceeding 24,000 TEUs, enabling the efficient handling of large-scale cargo movement across major shipping corridors. The company operates in key lanes such as Asia–Europe, Trans-Pacific, Asia–Africa, and intra-America, maintaining regular services and consistent port calls at terminals including Antwerp, Singapore, Felixstowe, Long Beach, and Durban.
The company also operates intermodal services in Europe under the Medway brand and expanded into air cargo in 2022 with MSC Air Cargo, providing a multimodal approach to logistics. MSC supports containerized shipping for sectors such as retail, manufacturing, industrial machinery, and perishables.
Sustainability is part of MSC’s strategy, with the adoption of low-sulfur fuel, vessel design improvements, and carbon reduction protocols. The company continues to invest in more efficient equipment and follows global emission reduction standards, including alignment with the IMO 2030 and 2050 goals.
As a privately held family-owned company, MSC continues to expand its logistics capabilities across sea, rail, and air while maintaining large-scale container operations on all continents.
General Information
| Official Address | Chemin Rieu 12, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland |
| Email Address | [email protected] |
| Phone | 91 2266378000 |
| Founder | Gianluigi Aponte |
| Founded Year | 1970 |
| Employee Size | 200,000+ |
| Website | https://www.msc.com/ |
Tools Offered
MSC Container Tracking
Our MSC/MEDU tracking tool is designed to provide you with easy, convenient, and quick tracking of Mediterranean Shipping Company containers. With this tool, you can effortlessly track the location of your containers/cargo and receive instant updates.
MSC Sailing Schedule
Stay on track with the latest MSC sailing schedules. Explore upcoming vessel schedules, get detailed insights on performance, and effortlessly track the on-time performance of MSC's global fleet.
MSC Empty Return
With GoComet's MSC empty return tracking tool, you can monitor container return status in real-time. Whether managing one container or multiple, GoComet helps minimize delays and avoid detention or demurrage charges.
MSC Vessel Tracking
Use GoComet's MSC Vessel Tracking tool to track your shipments. Simply enter your MSC vessel name to get real-time tracking updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is MSC Shipping and what does the company specialize in?
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is a global leader in ocean freight. It specializes in container shipping, operating one of the largest fleets in the world, along with services in rail logistics and air cargo through MSC Air.How can I track MSC containers on GoComet?
To track your MSC container, simply enter the container number, Bill of Lading (BL), or booking number on GoComet’s container tracking tool. You’ll receive real-time updates, ETA predictions, and status alerts.What types of services does MSC provide beyond ocean shipping?
Besides maritime shipping, MSC offers inland rail services under the Medway brand, and recently expanded into air logistics via MSC Air Cargo. They also offer warehousing and intermodal solutions.How reliable is MSC’s schedule adherence?
MSC has one of the most extensive global networks, and their fleet renewal program emphasizes schedule reliability. With GoComet, customers also get live delay alerts and predictive ETAs for better visibility.Where is MSC headquartered and how big is the company?
MSC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It operates in 155 countries through 524 offices and has more than 200,000 employees. It controls around 20% of the global container shipping market.Who owns MSC and when was it founded?
MSC is privately owned by the Aponte family. It was founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte and remains a family-run enterprise.How large is MSC’s container ship fleet?
MSC operates over 700 vessels, including ultra-large ships with capacities exceeding 24,000 TEU, making it the largest container fleet in the world as of 2024.What trade routes does MSC cover?
MSC serves over 215 major trade routes globally, connecting key ports in Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania.Does MSC offer digital shipping tools?
MSC’s digital capabilities are expanding. While MSC has its own tools, GoComet enhances the experience with real-time visibility, analytics, and scheduling services for all MSC shipments.What is MSC’s role in sustainable shipping?
MSC is actively investing in fuel-efficient vessels, lower-emission operations, and carbon offset programs to align with global sustainability standards in maritime logistics.