10 Largest Container Shipping Companies in the World (The US isn't represented at most levels)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
When I started in this business late 1960's containerization was mostly a pipe dream. Over the years it has developed into what it is today. A multi billion business that moves the vast majority of products internationally.
The size of the ships, the improvements in ports, and the inland MLB (mini land bridge , ship to rail to truck to customer) has changed the way the world trades.
The shipping companies have close relationships with both rail and trucking. The transportation industry is one of the largest employers in the world. Constantly changing, adding new trade routes, opening new markets.
I felt very fortunate to have worked by whole career in this business. It afforded me the opportunity to live in foreign countries, travel all over the world, and meet and do business with numerous cultures and languages.
I started out at the bottom rung. Unloading banana boats at the port of Long Beach, Ca. In the hold where the temps reached 110 degrees in the summer wearing thick gloves that reached past your elbows to protect one from the spiders and snakes. Grabbing stalks of banana's that were heavy enough to make you grunt and throw them onto a conveyor to get them top deck. From there I worked at every level of the industry. I retired in 2005 and worked another seven years as a expert witness in maritime court cases.
It was one hell of a ride and I loved every minute of it.
But I digress. You'll notice that of the top container companies there is one small American owned company. When I first started in the business there were three major American carriers. Sealand, American President Lines and U.S. Lines...Today none exist. U.S. Lines went bankrupt in the 1980's...Sealand was sold to Maersk (Danish) and disappeared. The last American carrier, APL was sold to Neptune Orient Line (Singpapore) in 1997...only Matson Navigation exists and the majority of their business is domestic. With a service to China and one to the South Pacific.
So folks in one of the largest businesses in the world there is one small American company. This, of course, begs the question when a war starts what the hell do we do for heavy lift...One small American company. Well now we rent space and containers from a couple of companies, Maersk (Danish) being one. Not something that I'm really good with, but it is what it is.
Will there be any U.S. company in the Container shipping business again. Matson Navigation expanded from their routes of Guam, Hawaii to other spots in the South Pacific and a service from Long Beach Ca. to two Chinese ports and Okinawa. They are relatively small compared to the top tier carriers and have a lock cargo from west coast Ports to Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and American islands in Micronesia. No competition and sky high rates.
The three main Japanese companies, NYK, K-Line and MOL have just completed a deal that they are now one company. Three very large, well run companies are now the biggest carrier in the world.....
Since this article was published, APL which shows as a subsidiary of NOL has been purchased by CMA - CGM a French company.
Container shipping is one of the most important and necessary means of cargo transportation through sea routes. In present times however, there does not exist any monopoly by any one of the container shipping companies.
All the same there are a few international shipping companies that lead the race in terms of the scale of operation of their shipping lines.
Ten of these leading shipping conglomerates of all shipping lines can be listed down as follows:
1. NYK
Image Credits: hafen-hamburg.de
An acronym for the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, the NYK is one of the biggest cargo companies operating internationally. The company has been in operation since the 1870s, operating a passenger fleet-line before undergoing a transition into a core container shipping company towards the mid-20 th century.
2. Evergreen Marine Corporation
Credit: NOAA
A shipping conglomerate based in China, the Evergreen Marine Corporation was founded in 1968 by Dr. Yung-Fa Chang, a visionary in his own right. At present, the company has offices established all over the world and with a operational capacity of more than 160 container ships is regarded to be one the largest cargo shipping companies in the world.
3. CMA-CGM
Credits: cma-cgm.com
France’s leading container shipping company, CMA-CGM came into existence in the year 1978, as a result of series of mergers between previously established shipping corporations. Jacques Saade who is the head of the company was the instrumental force behind its coming into active operation. At present, the company has a fleet of over 350 ships operating in over 150 routes globally.
4. Maersk
Credits: Maersk Group/flikr.com
A shipping corporation based in Denmark, Maersk Shipping Line is a branch of the AP Moller- Maersk company. Widely well-known for its fleet of container ships, the Maersk Line made its debut in the international container shipping arena in the year 1904. At present, the company has a fleet of around 500 container ships with a capacity of around 19, 00,000 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units).
5. MSC
Credits: eurogate.de
The Mediterranean Shipping Company, abbreviated to MSC is a Swiss international cargo company which was established in the year 1970. At present, with a vessel line-up of over 456 container ships, the conglomerate is rated to be one of the most extensive cargo companies in the world.
6. Hapag-Lloyd
Credits: hapag-lloyd.com
The German based Hapag-Lloyd is one of the most renowned and well-featured companies in terms of international shipping companies. The company was established in the year 1970 as a result of a merger between the Hamburg-American Line and the North German company Lloyd. Today the shipping corporation has over 130 ships catering to about five million containers on a worldwide scale.
7. APL
Representation Image – Photograph by Vivek Bondi
An auxiliary company to the Singaporean Orient Shipping Lines, APL is an abbreviation for American President Lines. Founded in the year 1848, the shipping conglomerate just celebrated its 160 th anniversary in the year 2008. One of the most noteworthy achievements of the company is that it was the first company to successfully utilise extra-large (53 feet) containers on its vessels, accounting for shorter cargo transportation.
8. COSCO
Credits: AlfvanBeem /wikipedia.org
The China Ocean Shipping Company or COSCO, as it is popularly known is one of the leading conglomerates in terms of container shipping companies. At present the company’s operations are spread over 40 countries with a fleet of 150 container ships.
9. Hanjin
Credits: Daniel Csörföly/wikipedia.org
A South Korean conglomerate, Hanjin Shipping Company is one of the largest Asian cargo companies in the world. At present the company has a cargo operational capacity of over 1 billion tonnes on a yearly basis with around a fleet of about 60 ships. In the year 2003, Hanjin and COSCO formed a strategic alliance. The alliance has benefited both shipping conglomerates and powered them to an unequivocal position as Asia’s leading cargo shipping companies .
10. CSCL
Representation Image – Photograph by Hasitha Kumarapperuma
CSCL is the abbreviation for the China Shipping Container Lines, a company based in Shanghai. Started in the year 1997, the company soon rose amongst its ranks and today has propelled not just itself but also the country to leading heights in the container shipping industry. The company finds its name in both the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges.
Container shipping is a huge industry and these key players are aware of the minutest operational manoeuvrings necessary to power them to being the world leaders in the commercial enterprise, not just in their home countries but also at an international level.
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It was a great 45 years but sadly I watched the demise of all American container shipping companies.
Dear Brother Kavika: The future belongs to those who progress, not regress.
We need to go with the flow.
Forward to progress.
E.
Unfortunately in this business the US isn't going onward and upward niijii.
I have been researching the Merchant Marine since dad served there from '45-'48. Just finished a book by John McPhee called "Looking for a Ship". It's pretty depressing to see a long tradition of US maritime service vanishing.
Indeed it is....My great nephew graduated from Kings Point, the merchant marine academy, and has been working as a ships engineer for the past seven years.
Any one that graduates from Kings Point there is a line of companies wanting to hire them and really excellent wages.
If you ever go to Tampa, FL you can tour a merchant marine ship. I was just there this last February visiting my daughter who lives in Tampa.
It is was very interesting, and you can view the entire ship. When you first get there a Veteran will spend a lot of time with you about the history of the ships. He spent about an hour with me and my daughter and we learned some interesting things. He did talk about how the Merchant Marines did put themselves in danger and never got a whole lot of recognition for it. The ship is still operational.
In San Pedro Ca. the Merchant Marine Memorial to all the seamen that lost their lives in the fight for freedom.
Excellent article and photo...
The Jacobs Ladder...
My deceased uncle served in the MM during WWII in the Atlantic. Never spoke a word about it and never set foot on a boat after.
Little know fact that the casualty rate for Merchant Seaman was the highest of any service.
That's a nice picture.
Not until I was an adult did I understand the reason for the dazzle paint schemes of the first half of the 20th century.
I almost wish they still did it, just for the heck of it.
(funny, dazzle gets censored on the front page)
I had never been on any military ship. It was pretty cool and huge. Can't imagine how big the cargo ships and naval ships are!
These are few pics I took...
The size of a WWII Liberty ship was length 446 ft, bean 58 ft.
The largest aircraft carrier...length 1106 ft, beam flight deck 256 ft waterline 138 ft.
The largest container ship..length 1312 ft, beam 193 waterline...Capacity 21,413 containers.
Cool photos Sunshine.
Thanks for those pictures Sunshine.
Ships are incredible structures.
Thank you Sunshine!
I wish I could.
The ship in FL is a Victory ship. They came after the Liberty ship. They were very similar but much faster.
Thanks so much for the links. I learned so much.
I have dad's album photo's of ships he served on. I have letters he mailed from the union hall in Mobile. After reading McPhee's book I can envision dad "looking for a ship" in that hall.
All of the ships dad was on have all been scrapped. Even the William Wirt that shot down four German dive bombers that were attacking the convoy.
In America new is better so scrap the old. Sad.
It's called progress, although I have to wonder is it really progress or a lack of understanding the value of certain things from our past.
I have a pic of dad in Paris. His ship had hauled flour to France in '46. He was sitting on the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I was there in '01 and had my pic taken holding his pic. In the background were the same buildings. One was built in the 1700's. In America that building would have been torn down and replaced with a McDonalds. Oh Well!
Without a doubt.
Could have been the Jones act and unions that did them in.
The Jones act has nothing to do with it. The act requires that only American bottom vessels can provide service between US ports. We are talking international here.
Also the unions had noting to do with it. Come on Dean you can do better than that.
Yeah it drove up the cost of shipping for US companies and that made them uncompetitive in the international market.
Dean it did not drive up the cost of shipping for customers. The freight rates are set my the line and the American Carriers were in line with everyone else. ...For goodness sake, labor is a very very small part of the costs for international shipping companies...Don't you think that the Danish, French, German etc etc didn't had the same labor costs.
BTW, I can't access your link. I have to join something or other to see it.
The link works for me even on my IPad try double tapping it.
Tried everything, still a no go....I can read the headline and they are talking about the Jones act which has nothing to do with international shipping...US ports to Hawaii, Jones act...US ports to Guam, Jones act...US ports to any foreign port in the world...No Jones act.
From what you say in the text, Matson Navigation is about the only American company that is prospering... and it works largely where the Jones Act applies.
So it can't be such a terrible handicap...
I don't know what the article states, but Matson Navagation is very very profitable. In 2016 it was the most profitable carrier in the business. The bulk of their business for decades was the West Coast (long Beach) to Hawaii. Their competition was Sealand and APL, when those two carriers were purchased by foreign shipping companies they could no longer provide service to Hawaii. Another carrier, Horizon, started a service to Hawaii and Guam. Matson Navigation purchased them a few years ago so it has little competition to Hawaii, Guam, US Micronesia and America Samoa. It started a service to China and other islands in the South Pacific...
So I have no idea what the article is stating. Of course the same thing applies to the East Coast to PR etc with different American Carriers, IE: Crowley.
I meant your text... your article here... You write about Matson:
Matson seems to be successful despite the Jones Act.
Yes, Matson is profitable because of the Jones act which limits competition, not in spite of it.
That was its purpose, I suppose.
But as usual, a protected industry is often not competitive outside of the protected zone.
Yes they were and no it didn't die off. It's called Olympic Shipping now and they are not in the containers bussiness. They are oil tankers and bulk carriers.
I posted a few photos on another article of one of your ships that was hit by a typhoon in the northern route from Japan to Seattle. The damage was extensive, really extensive.
I met the Captain the day their were towed into port. He said that in 30 years at sea he had never seen a typhoon that powerful and it was the first time he thought he was going to die.
The ship is the APL China
In addition to the damage you see here, a couple of hundred containers went overboard at sea.
Oh hell I posted them on this article down below...Really getting old..LOL
Interesting post. As a railfan, I see many of those names on the intermodal trains and at the nearby Virginia Inland Port. We have a lot of those names on our model railroad club's intermodal trains.
Did container shipping start with SeaLand?
Sealand was one of the earliest container carriers, but the first US container mover was MacLean trucking. Macolm MacLean later started U.S. Lines.
That's right, I remember MacLean Trucking
They were a big player at one time as was U.S. Lines. Both are now gone.
Every time I see pictures of those ships with containers stacked so high I marvel that in heavy seas and windstorms the ships don't tip over and even if they're tied down, the containers don't end up in the sea. Are there incidents of this happening? I guess insurance covering that possibility is a necessity.
Thanks, Kavika, for educating us about this topic. I'm sure that very very few have known much about it, or are familiar with the various leading companies.
Oh yes, container ships lose containers overboard in big storms, it's not unusual for that to happen.
One of our competitors lost a ship in the China sea during a storm. Sunk will all hands and thousands of containers.
Photo of the APL China damaged in a storm on the northern from from Japan to Seattle.
I spent a day with the Captain when the ship was towed into Seattle..He told me in his 30 years at sea this was the worst storm he'd ever seen and the only time that he thought he was going to die.
Kavika, Buzz, this topic reminds me of those ongoing topics I continually research.
The "rogue" or "freak" wave, which the linear wave model could not predict. So, what little I have discovered, no designers, engineers, or any other land based personnel responsible for shipping traffic accounted for these waves either.
However, a series of events lead to the realization that in fact these rogue or freak waves exist. There was another wave model which had predicted these wave, but had been ignored.
In the meantime a lot of ships vanished at sea. No idea where that whole issue is right now.
The ship our competitor lost in the China sea was hit by a ''freak'' wave....Also the other problems was that she was loaded with refer containers on deck and they are very heavy. If I remember right the listed to starboard at 25 degrees and then did a turtle and right to the bottom in 30 minutes.
Incredible power of the waves.
I just remembered a little bit about the wave model which is able to recognize the freak waves. What happens is, one wave will draw the energy from the wave in front and the wave behind. This creates deep troughs both in front of and behind the wave. The wave itself is a vertical wall that breaks on the ship as it plunges into the trough.
You are lucky to get out alive.
Didn't I tell you, ''NO SMOKING''...
s
I swear that continent wasn't there the last time I looked.
Fascinating article, K.
Thank you.
Thanks Bob.
I find this interesting since my dad went to Merchant Marine High School (Brooklyn) and contemplated a life of doing this, before he joined the navy.
My hubby used to have to go to the loading docks on occasion and told me about the amazing operation that happens.. everything from fumigation of the inventory, to the actual loading and unloading and how you got about finding your lot.
It seems like you loved your job.. everyone should. You were lucky while it lasted.
That I did. The travel and living in other countries. Dealing with multiple language and cultures was great, I loved every minute of it. Starting when containerization was a baby and working all the way through it coming of age. The innovations and new industries that were spawned from it was a wonderful experience.