Maersk orders 20 LNG dual-fuel vessels

Combined, the vessels have a capacity of 300,000 TEU. With these orders, Maersk concludes the intended owned newbuilding orders announced in the August 2024 update of the fleet renewal plan.

“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 programme 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 Maersk head of chartering and newbuilding Anda Cristescu.

All 20 ships will be equipped with LNG dual-fuel propulsion systems and vary in size from 9,000 to 17,000 TEU.

“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. Once phased in, they will replace existing capacity in our fleet,” added Mr Cristescu.

The first vessels will be delivered in 2028, and the last delivery will take place in 2030.

The August fleet update further announced the intention to charter a range of methanol and liquefied gas dual-fuel vessels totalling 500,000 TEU capacity. Maersk has now finalised these charter contracts across several tonnage providers. When phased in, the charter vessels will replace existing capacity.

Two 9,000-TEU vessels and six 17,000-TEU vessels have been ordered at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China; the order also includes 12 15,000-TEU vessels – six will be built at Hanwha Ocean, South Korea, and six at New Times Shipbuilding, China.