Shipping lines A.P. Moller-Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have reportedly placed orders totalling US$5.8 billion for LNG dual-fuel neo-panamax container ships from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China.
Sources report that Hapag-Lloyd increased its initial order from 10 to as many as 18 vessels, each with a capacity of 17,000 TEUs. Meanwhile, Maersk has ordered 10 ships of similar size, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029, signalling a significant shift towards LNG fuel in the shipping industry.
Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration at the start of this year. The Gemini Cooperation is scheduled to start in February 2025, aiming to deliver ‘a flexible and interconnected ocean network’ with industry-leading reliability.
