Geneva based MSC has taken delivery of the 9,403-TEU MSC Azov, first of three wide beam post-panamaxes ordered in September 2010 from the Jiangnan Changxing yard and the 8,772-TEU MSC Adelaide ordered in January 2011 from Korea's Sungdong Shipyard by Greek owner Costamare.

Three sister ships were also ordered by the Schulte Group, Germany, all with the backing of MSC. The MSC Azov is to join in early January the MSC's Far East-SAF-ECSA Ipanema service, reports Alphaliner.

These ships are part of an MSC order of 47 wide beam ships of 8,700-9,500 TEU, several of which with a 1,000 reefer plugs ideal for the South America trades or for sectors with physical restrictions.

The MSC Adelaide, the last of six same-size wide beam ships with two other Costamare ships are backed by 10-year charters to MSC as well as four ships ordered in MSC's name with Zodiac Maritime.

The two Costamare ships, MSC Athens and MSC Athos, were both delivered in March. A third ship, MSC Abidjan, came on stream in May for Zodiac-linked interests and joined in June the fleet of Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EP Shipping), both new owners further to a shift of London-based Zodiac Maritime ships to EP Shipping as part of a fleet sharing between the Ofer Brothers.

Two subsequent units, the MSC Agriegento and MSC Alghero, were delivered in July and October to Zodiac.