02JUL2019 - NEWS - MSC continues box ship upgrades to compensate for slots lost to scrubbers

MSC has signed a new contract with Cargotec’s MacGregor to upgrade the container intake on six 16,000 teu vessels to mitigate the loss of slots as a result of the installation of scrubber systems. It follows a contract awarded at the end of 2017 to the hatch cover specialist to “optimise the carrying capabilities” of 31 14,000 teu MSC-operated ships. The upgrades, which MacGregor claims can boost container capacity by around 15%, will take place during dry docking early next year, when scrubber systems are also being installed.