Hapag-Lloyd & Seaspan Plan for Retrofitting of Five Boxships
Hapag-Lloyd and Seaspan Corporation have entered into a partnership to retrofit and convert five 10,100 TEU container ships to run on dual-fuel engines capable of using methanol.
Currently powered by conventional MAN S90 engines, these ships will undergo modifications allowing them to operate on cleaner fuel. Following the retrofit, the ships will continue to be chartered long-term by Hapag-Lloyd from Seaspan.
Dr. Maximilan Rothkopf, Chief Operating Officer of Hapag-Lloyd, commented on the project: “The methanol retrofit project is a further step in our ambitious sustainability agenda, which aims to achieve the decarbonisation of the entire fleet by 2045. By enabling these vessels to use green methanol as of 2026, we will meet our customers’ growing demand for green transportation solutions.”
He further noted, “With Seaspan, we benefit from a valued partner with deep experience, a wide supplier network and scale.”
As part of its strategic commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Hapag-Lloyd is not only focusing on retrofitting ships and enhancing the performance of its existing fleet through the Fleet Upgrade Program but is also actively exploring and securing sustainable fuel sources, among which green methanol is viewed as a particularly viable option.
The ships designated for the retrofitting project are the Seaspan Amazon, Seaspan Ganges, Seaspan Thames, Seaspan Yangtze, and Seaspan Zambezi. The retrofitting is expected to take between 80-90 days for each vessel, starting in the first quarter of 2026. The total investment for this initiative is projected to be around US$120 million.
Torsten Holst Pedersen, Chief Operating Officer of Seaspan, emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving environmental goals: “Collaboration between strong and like-minded partners, Hapag-Lloyd and Seaspan, drives innovation. Retrofitting must be an integral part of the strategy if the container shipping industry wants to deliver on its decarbonisation targets."