MPC Container Ships ASA has agreed to acquire four modern 7,000 TEU eco-container vessels for USD 340 million, backed by a three-year charter that has prompted an upward revision of its 2026 financial guidance. The fleet expansion is supported by a heavily oversubscribed USD 375 million senior secured term loan underwritten by Société Générale, fully funding ten of the company’s newbuildings.
Oslo, Norway | June 25, 2026 – MPC Container Ships ASA has announced a major fleet modernization and financing expansion, executing an agreement to acquire four high-specification, eco-conventional 7,000 TEU container vessels for a total of USD 340 million.
The transaction is heavily de-risked by immediate three-year fixed-rate time charters to a top-five global liner company. Parallel to the acquisition, the Oslo-listed tonnage provider has locked in forward charters for two existing vessels, divested two older non-strategic hulls, and secured a heavily oversubscribed USD 375 million senior secured term loan to advance its broader fleet renewal program.
Fleet Expansion: Capitalizing on Mid-Size Segment Undersupply
The four acquired vessels, constructed between 2023 and 2024, feature an optimized eco-design integrating low-energy main engines and high-efficiency propellers. Subject to standard closing conditions and inspections, deliveries are scheduled for October and November 2026.
The transaction adds critical operational scale, expanding MPCC’s footprint into larger mid-size asset classes while capturing significant cash flow visibility:
- Secured Revenue: USD 180 million over the three-year charter period.
- Expected EBITDA: USD 140 million.
- Total Contract Revenue Backlog: Lifted to USD 2.2 billion.
“Global container shipping is undergoing a structural shift toward intra-regional trade, with feeder vessels and the mid-size segment up to 10,000 TEU set to benefit disproportionately,” said Constantin Baack, CEO of MPCC. “Modern, fuel-efficient tonnage in this size class remains undersupplied, and these versatile workhorses are the natural successors to an ageing fleet of classic Panamaxes.”
Chartering Surge and Fleet Pruning Boosts 2026 Guidance
Demonstrating strong forward demand, MPCC has fixed charters for the AS Pamela (24–27 months) and AS Anne (30–32 months) at attractive rates. These positions were secured roughly six to nine months forward, with deliveries set for Q4 2026 and Q2 2027.
Concurrently, the company is offloading legacy, non-strategic tonnage:
- AS Selina: Sold for USD 24 million, with handover between late Q4 2026 and early Q1 2027.
- AS Angelina: A vessel approaching its 20-year class renewal in 2027, sold for USD 17 million with handover in Q3 2026.
Upward Revision of 2026 Financial Guidance
Driven by these commercial actions, MPCC has tightened its charter coverage (99% for 2026, 74% for 2027, and 48% for 2028) and upgraded its full-year financial projections:
| Metric | Previous 2026 Guidance | Revised 2026 Guidance |
| Revenue | USD 450 – 460 million | USD 460 – 470 million |
| EBITDA | USD 260 – 280 million | USD 280 – 300 million |
Financing Update: Oversubscribed $375M Facility Secured
To anchor the capital structure of its asset expansion, MPCC successfully secured a USD 375 million senior secured term loan with a ten-year tenor from asset delivery. Fully underwritten by Société Générale, the facility faced intensive institutional demand, resulting in a substantial oversubscription.
The final lending consortium includes BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, ING, and KfW IPEX-Bank. The facility fully finances ten of the 16 newbuilding vessels MPCC ordered last year.
Furthermore, an additional USD 75 million credit facility targeting two 4,500 TEU newbuildings has been credit-approved and is slated for closure in H2 2026.
Balance Sheet Health: Despite the intensive capital deployment, MPCC maintains a highly conservative leverage profile, retaining 30 debt-free vessels alongside substantial undrawn capacity under its revolving credit facility (RCF).
“The term loan secures funding of ten of our newbuildings at highly attractive terms, while maintaining significant cash at hand,” noted Moritz Fuhrmann, Co-CEO and CFO. “As a result, we are able to continue to act swiftly and capture these attractive opportunities.“
About MPC Container Ships
MPC Container Ships ASA (ticker code: MPCC) is a leading container tonnage provider focusing on small-to-mid-size vessels. Its primary activity is the ownership and operation of a shipping portfolio serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The company is registered and headquartered in Oslo, Norway.
Source: MPCC