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Top 12 Most Famous International Shipping Lines Worldwide
Ocean freight transportation continues to prove its importance as a large volume of global export cargo is moved through this shipping mode. Therefore, to ensure a smooth import-export process, businesses need to choose large and reputable international shipping lines. Let’s take a closer look at 12 of the world’s most well-known shipping lines in the article below.
1. MSC Line
MSC Line is a long-established and renowned private shipping line in the ocean freight industry. Originating from Switzerland, the company is headquartered in Geneva. MSC Line provides optimized cargo transportation solutions, builds long-term partnerships with customers of all sizes, and operates both domestically and across numerous international markets.
MSC Line currently operates 700 container vessels, employs 110,000 staff, serves more than 250 trade routes across 155 countries, maintains 600 offices worldwide, and has a carrying capacity of 4.2 million TEU. It has surpassed Maersk Line to become the world’s leading shipping line in total TEU capacity.
MSC Line is the world’s largest container shipping line in terms of carrying capacity and operational scale
2. Maersk Line
Maersk Line is the shipping arm of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group (Denmark), headquartered in Copenhagen. The line specializes in transportation services, supply chain management and development, warehousing and distribution, 4PL logistics solutions, customs services, and more.
To date, Maersk Line has deployed more than 730 container vessels, employs over 100,000 staff, serves more than 100,000 customers, and has operations in 130 countries, including Vietnam. Its fleet capacity reaches 4.1 million TEU, accounting for 16.7% of global market share.
3. CMA CGM
CMA CGM is a French container shipping line formed through the merger of two maritime transport companies. Its headquarters is located at the CMA CGM Tower in Marseille, France, while its North American headquarters is in Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
The international shipping line CMA CGM offers services such as shipment tracking, supply chain management, reefer and oversized cargo transportation, and more. CMA CGM operates a fleet of 568 container vessels, 200 shipping services, serves 420 ports across 150 countries, and has a carrying capacity of 3.1 million TEU.
4. COSCO SHIPPING Lines
COSCO SHIPPING Lines is a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Holdings (China), headquartered at Ocean Plaza, Xicheng District, Beijing. It is one of the most prominent and largest shipping lines in China. COSCO SHIPPING Lines provides both domestic and global services, including online booking, vessel schedule checking, B/L amendments directly on the website, convenient shipment tracking via digital platforms, and online VGM/SI submission.
At present, COSCO SHIPPING Lines operates 403 container vessels with a capacity of 2.2 million TEU, 264 international services, 55 domestic routes, and a presence at 570 ports in 140 countries.
COSCO SHIPPING Lines is currently ranked the 4th largest shipping line in the world after MSC, Maersk Line, and CMA CGM
5. HAPAG-LLOYD
HAPAG-LLOYD is a leading container shipping line in Germany, headquartered in Hamburg. Following the merger with CSAV (Chile) and UASC, the carrier became even stronger with a modern fleet of 248 container vessels, 14,000 employees, 418 offices in 137 countries, and a carrying capacity of 1.7 million TEU. HAPAG-LLOYD specializes in serving major global trade lanes such as the Middle East, Latin America, Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, and domestic routes.
6. ONE LINE
ONE LINE is an international shipping line from Japan, established through the merger of three companies: NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha), MOL (Mitsui OSK Lines), and K Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha). The line is headquartered in Tokyo, with its global headquarters in Singapore and offices in more than 90 countries.
In 2017, ONE LINE became a member of THE Alliance, providing 34 service products and calling at 81 seaports each month. The carrier operates 220 container vessels, including 46 ultra-large container ships (with capacities of up to 20,000 TEU), employs 14,000 staff, serves 106 countries worldwide, and has a carrying capacity of 1.5 million TEU.
7. Evergreen Line
Evergreen Line is the common trade name for the shipping companies under the Evergreen Group (Taiwan), headquartered in Luzhu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. The group currently consists of six subsidiaries: Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan) Ltd, Italia Marittima SpA, Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd, Evergreen Marine (Hong Kong) Ltd, Evergreen Marine (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, and Evergreen Marine (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
Evergreen Line provides services such as online booking, VGM submission, Bill of Lading processing via the system, cargo tracking, and vessel schedule checking. Its fleet includes more than 180 container vessels with a total carrying capacity of 1.2 million TEU, supported by over 240 agents across more than 80 countries.
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8. HMM
HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine) is the most prominent and largest shipping line in South Korea, with its headquarters in Seoul. It is also one of the leading carriers in Korea’s export market. HMM provides transoceanic services from East Asia to Asia, the Middle East, South America, and beyond. The line operates 75 container vessels with a carrying capacity of 819,790 TEU, supported by 4 international headquarters, 27 subsidiaries, 76 branches, 10 representative offices, and 5 overseas offices.
HMM is also a member of THE Alliance
9. Yang Ming
Another major shipping line from Taiwan is Yang Ming, the country’s second-largest carrier, headquartered in Keelung. Yang Ming is also a member of THE Alliance, providing extensive services across ports in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. The carrier currently operates 90 container vessels with a total capacity of 662,047 TEU, serving more than 70 countries through 170 service points.
10. ZIM Line
ZIM Line is the largest cargo carrier in Israel. Its headquarters is located in Haifa, with an additional office in Norfolk, Virginia (USA). Services provided by ZIM Line include online booking, VGM submission, B/L amendments through the system, cargo tracking, vessel schedule monitoring, and transportation of dry containers, reefer cargo, oversized cargo, and domestic shipments.
ZIM Line’s fleet consists of 111 container vessels, serving 180 countries with a carrying capacity of 419,064 TEU. In addition, the carrier operates 70 weekly services, employs around 4,200 staff, and maintains 170 offices in more than 100 countries worldwide.
11. Wan Hai Line
Wan Hai Line is a Taiwan-based carrier and the country’s third-largest shipping line. Wan Hai has continuously expanded its network from Asia to farther regions such as Africa, the Middle East, the United States, South America, and Canada. The company has established dedicated port coverage across Northern, Central, and Southern Taiwan, notably including Keelung, Kaohsiung, and Taichung. Wan Hai Line operates a fleet of 72 container vessels with a capacity of 366,000 TEU, employs at least 5,000 staff, and holds a 1.5% global market share.
12. OOCL
OOCL is an international shipping line from Hong Kong, providing container shipping, logistics, and integrated international terminal services. The line operates extensively across Asia, Europe, India, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North America, and Australia through 78 service routes. In addition, OOCL’s fleet consists of 59 container vessels with a capacity of 21,413 TEU and is supported by 370 offices in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Overall, the international shipping lines mentioned above all deliver highly professional and reliable transportation services. To connect effectively with these carriers, businesses often require the support of a third-party logistics provider. These service providers possess deep expertise in international transportation and know how to negotiate effectively with shipping lines, helping cargo move more smoothly and efficiently.
3W Logistics is a trusted provider of international freight forwarding services that businesses should not overlook. The company partners with major shipping lines such as Maersk Line, SeaLand, ONE, Yang Ming, Evergreen, COSCO, Hyundai, OOCL, Hapag-Lloyd, Wan Hai, and more, enabling highly competitive rates while ensuring the best service quality for customers. Understanding how shipping lines and seaports operate helps make cargo transportation easier, faster, and more accurate in both destination and timing.
The 3W Logistics team is highly professional and experienced, always ready to advise customers on the most optimized shipping solutions
In addition, 3W Logistics is an OTI-NVOCC with FMC license and bond, fully capable of issuing its own HBL and filing AMS/ISF (for U.S. shipments) as well as E-Manifest (for Canada shipments) under 3W’s own SCAC code. For ocean exports to the U.S. and Canada, FMC licensing is required, and 3W Logistics can handle this process directly and efficiently without outsourcing. This is a capability that very few international freight forwarding companies in Vietnam can offer.
Above is an overview of the world’s largest and most well-known international shipping lines. To ensure a seamless import-export process, businesses can connect with these carriers through an experienced intermediary logistics provider such as 3W Logistics—maximizing time and cost efficiency while still ensuring cargo safety and on-time delivery.
