The world of shipping has seen a significant transformation over the years. Container ships, in particular, have revolutionized global trade, enabling the swift and cost-effective movement of vast amounts of goods across oceans. Here’s a look at the top 10 container shipping companies that have dominated the industry:
- Evergreen Marine Corporation: Based in Taiwan, Evergreen operates primarily between the Far East and North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. With over 150 ships, it’s a major player in the shipping industry.
- NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha): One of the oldest and largest shipping companies, NYK is based in Tokyo, Japan, and boasts a fleet of over 800 ships.
3. Maersk: Hailing from Denmark, Maersk is often considered the world’s largest operator of container ships. With operations in over 130 countries, it’s a global powerhouse.
4. Hapag-Lloyd: This German international transportation company was formed by merging two giants: Hamburg America Line and Norddeutscher Lloyd. It’s one of the most renowned shipping companies globally.
5. MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company): Based in Switzerland, MSC is the second-largest shipping company in terms of container vessels, with operations in major parts of the world.
6. APL (American President Lines): Operating primarily in North America and Asia, APL, along with its parent company CMA CGM, is the world’s third-largest container shipping company.
7. CSCL (China Shipping Container Lines Co., Ltd): Originally a standalone Chinese marine shipping company, CSCL merged with COSCO in 2015, making it one of the largest container shipping companies globally.
8. COSCO (China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company): A Chinese giant in transportation and logistics, COSCO operates in over 40 countries with a fleet capacity of 1,580,000 TEU.
9. Hanjin: Once a major South Korean logistics and container transport company, Hanjin declared bankruptcy in 2017 but left a significant mark in the shipping industry.
10. CMA CGM: Based in France, CMA CGM is one of the largest worldwide shipping groups, with operations in over 150 countries.
Source: Maritime Manual