Maersk Orders 20 Dual-Fuel Container Vessels for Fleet Renewal

Danish shipping giant Maersk has placed an order for 20 new container vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines, partnering with three shipyards for their construction. The combined capacity of the new ships will total 300,000 TEUs, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing fleet renewal efforts.

The orders include two 9,000 TEU and six 17,000 TEU vessels from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China. Additionally, Maersk has contracted Hanwha Ocean in South Korea to build six 15,000 TEU ships and New Times Shipbuilding in China for another six of the same size. These agreements finalize the company’s planned fleet expansion, as outlined in its August 2024 fleet renewal update.

“We are pleased to have signed agreements for 20 vessels and thereby completed the acquisition of 300,000 TEU capacity as announced in August. These orders are a part of our ongoing fleet renewal program and in line with our commitment to decarbonisation, as all the vessels will have dual-fuel engines with the intent to operate them on lower emissions fuel,” said Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering & Newbuilding at Maersk.

The new vessels, ranging in size from 9,000 to 17,000 TEUs, will feature liquified gas dual-fuel propulsion systems, ensuring they can operate on lower-emission fuels. “Due to their different sizes, the vessels will be able to fill many roles and functions within our future network and give us a lot of deployment flexibility when they are ready to enter our fleet,” Cristescu added.

Deliveries of the new ships are expected to commence in 2028 and conclude by 2030. Alongside this order, Maersk has also finalized agreements for chartering methanol and liquified gas dual-fuel vessels, amounting to 500,000 TEU capacity, further advancing its transition to a greener fleet.