A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has signed agreements with three yards for a total of 20 container vessels equipped with LNG dual-fuel engines.
Combined, the vessels will offer 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.
Anda Cristescu, Maersk Head of Chartering and Newbuilding, 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 decarbonisation, as all the vessels will have dual-fuel engines with the intent to operate them on lower emissions fuel.”
The 20 ships vary in size from 9,000 to 17,000 TEU.
Cristescu added: “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.”
The first vessels will be delivered in 2028, and the last delivery will take place in 2030. The August 2024 fleet update additionally announced the intention to charter a range of methanol and LNG 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.
The newbuilding orders for the latest 20 vessels comprise: two 9,000 TEU vessels at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China; 12 15,000 TEU vessels, six each at Hanwha Ocean, South Korea and New Times Shipbuilding, China and six 17,000 TEU vessels at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China.
