MPC Container Ships has christened its new dual-fuel container vessel, the DP World Southampton, which has entered service on a seven-year time charter with DP World in Northern Europe. Equipped with a methanol-capable dual-fuel engine and shore power connectivity, the vessel significantly cuts emissions during operations and quayside stays. The milestone highlights MPCC’s ongoing fleet transition toward climate-friendly tonnage through close collaboration with key industry partners.
Oslo, Norway | August 13, 2026 – MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) has marked a major milestone in its fleet modernization and decarbonization journey with the official christening of the DP World Southampton. The dual-fuel newbuilding has officially entered service on a long-term, 7-year time charter with DP World, where it will be deployed across Northern European intra-regional trade lanes.
The naming ceremony brought together key industry stakeholders to celebrate a vessel designed from the keel up to meet stricter environmental standards while maintaining operational efficiency in high-frequency feeder routes.
Dual-Fuel Capabilities and Shore-Power Integration
The DP World Southampton represents the cutting edge of mid-size container shipping design, featuring advanced technological integrations aimed at drastically curbing greenhouse gas emissions:
- Methanol-Capable Dual-Fuel Engine: Equipped to operate on cleaner alternative fuels, providing a clear pathway toward carbon-neutral operations as green methanol bunkering infrastructure scales.
- Shore Power Connectivity: Fully compatible with high-voltage Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems, enabling zero-emission operations while berthed at equipped ports across Northern Europe.
- Optimized Feeder Profile: Tailored specifically for MPCC’s core focus on small-to-mid-size intra-regional trade lanes, balancing flexibility with environmental performance.
Collaborative Industry Partnership
The successful delivery and naming of the vessel was celebrated by godmother Laurence Illouz-Timsit of Societe Generale, who bestowed the traditional blessing during the ceremony. MPCC also extended gratitude to the extensive network of industry partners that brought the project to fruition:
- Charterer: DP World
- Shipbuilder: Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co., Ltd.
- Classification: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
- Technical & Commercial Partners: Elbdeich Reederei, Nordic Hamburg Shipmanagement, and Everllence.
Strengthening MPCC’s Green Tonnage Transition
As maritime regulations tighten and charterers increasingly demand low-carbon tonnage, the addition of the DP World Southampton underscores MPCC’s proactive approach to fleet renewal. By pairing long-term charter visibility with dual-fuel methanol propulsion and shore-power readiness, the Oslo-listed container tonnage provider continues to solidify its position as a leader in sustainable intra-regional shipping.
About MPC Container Ships
MPC Container Ships ASA (ticker code: “MPCC”) is a leading container tonnage provider focusing on small- to mid-size container ships. The company’s primary activity is owning and operating a versatile portfolio of container vessels serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. MPCC is headquartered and registered in Oslo, Norway.
Source: MPC Container Ships