BEYOND CARGO:
07 Sep 2026 09:43AM
From a distinctive vessel-naming tradition to careers spanning decades, MSC’s Asia Regional Office has put people at the heart of its business for the past 30 years.
Some of the ships crossing the world’s oceans carry names with a story behind them. Across Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)’s global fleet, vessels have been named after employees and their loved ones – a tradition dating back to founder Gianluigi Aponte, who started the company in 1970. Today, MSC is led by the second generation of the Aponte family, and the tradition lives on. It reflects a family-oriented culture built around personal relationships and lasting ties. As MSC marks 30 years since establishing its Asia Regional Office in Singapore, that sense of connection can be seen among employees who have spent much of their working lives with the company, building their careers while helping it navigate a rapidly evolving industry.
“THE NAMING OF VESSELS AFTER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS REFLECTS MSC’S BELIEF THAT SUCCESS IS BUILT ON PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT VIEWED SIMPLY AS EMPLOYEES, BUT AS PART OF THE WIDER MSC FAMILY.”– MS GRACE CHIA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MSC ASIA REGIONAL OFFICE
