<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000847831</issuerCik><issuerName>MC SHIPPING INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000830122</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PICO HOLDINGS INC /NEW</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>875 PROSPECT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 301</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LA JOLLA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>92037-4264</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>COMMON</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-21</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14300</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>1.5151</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1343000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks>All shares reported as sold on this Form 4 are owned by Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PICO Holdings,Inc.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/James F. Mosier, General Counsel and Secretary</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

