AP Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has signed agreements with three yards for 20 container vessels equipped with liquified gas dual-fuel propulsion systems. Combined, the vessels have a capacity of 300,000 TEU.
The first vessels will be delivered in 2028, the last in 2030. Maersk has invested in 12 15,000 TEU vessels – six ordered from Hanwha Ocean in South Korea and six from New Times Shipbuilding in China. Additionally, it has six 17,000 TEU vessels from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China and two 9,000 TEU vessels also from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China.
These orders conclude Maersk’s intended owned new building orders as announced in the August 2024 update of the fleet renewal plan. The August fleet update announced Maersk’s intention to charter a range of methanol and liquified gas dual-fuel vessels totaling 500,000 TEU capacity. These charter contracts have now been finalized across several tonnage providers. The charter vessels will replace existing capacity when phased in.
Anda Cristescu, head of chartering and newbuilding at Maersk, said, “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 decarbonization, as all the vessels will have dual-fuel engines with the intent to operate them on lower emissions fuel.
“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.”
In related news, Lloyd’s Register (LR), AP Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and Core Power recently launched a joint regulatory assessment study to research the regulatory feasibility and frameworks that would need to be established for a nuclear container ship using a fourth-generation reactor noted for its high inherent safety to undertake cargo operations at a port in Europe. Click here to read the full story.