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Hapag-Lloyd embarks on a fleet upgrade program within the next 5 years
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Most ships to be installed with retrofit propeller, others with flow-optimized bulbous bow
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Propeller will lower fuel consumption by up to 13% and reduce the fleet’s CO² emissions
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Hapag-Lloyd aims to be climate-neutral by 2045
Hapag-Lloyd is embarking on a five-year fleet upgrade program aimed at modernizing the existing fleet and helping reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
The program was kick started with the first loading of a retrofit propeller in the Port of Hamburg, the shipping line said in a statement.
The propeller, which has been optimized for energy efficiency by German manufacturer MMG, will be installed on Hapag-Lloyd’s 7,500-TEU Ningbo Express in Dubai in September.
This innovation will mean ships save between 10% and 13% fuel and reduce CO² emissions, depending on the sailing condition.
In total, there are plans to equip at least 86 ships with the new and more efficient propellers. A new, flow-optimized bulbous bow will be fitted on 36 other vessels.
During the scheduled dry dock stays, a resistance-reducing coat of anti-fouling paint will to be applied to all vessels on the part of the exterior hull beneath the waterline.
Most measures will be carried out by 2025 and is expected to make a significant contribution to helping the company achieve its climate targets.
“We aim to be climate-neutral by 2045. To reach this goal, we have set ourselves the interim target of reducing the CO2 intensity of our own ships by 30 per cent already by 2030. To do so, we are investing in new future-proof ships while simultaneously focusing on making our existing fleet fit for the future. The Fleet Upgrade Program will boost the energy efficiency of the entire fleet,” said Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf, COO of Hapag-Lloyd AG.
Investments in the Fleet Upgrade Program will be in the three-digit million range, the company said, adding that together with the €2 billion order for 12 LNG ships placed two years ago, this means it is investing in sustainable, competitive ship operations for the long term.
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