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A.P. Moller – Maersk is currently finalizing newbuilding orders and time-charter contracts for dual-fuel vessels
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Maersk CEO Rahab Boulos said the company’s fleet renewal program is fundamental to maintaining competitive edge in its ocean business
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The ordered capacity will be a mix of owned and chartered
A.P. Moller – Maersk is currently finalizing newbuilding orders and time-charter contracts for dual-fuel vessels matching the planned renewal pace of some 160-000 TEU per year.
This is a continuation of the company’s fleet renewal program launched in 2021.
Maersk CEO Rahab Boulos said the company’s fleet renewal program “is fundamental to maintaining competitive edge in our ocean business, and it is a cornerstone in decarbonizing our operations.”
Boulos added that because shipyear orderbooks have been filling up at a fast pace and lead time for vessel deliveries have risen significantly, “we decided to place orders and charter contracts of 800,000 TEU dual-fuel vessels, which ensures a steady flow of needed capacity for our network for the years 2026-2030.”
The ordered capacity will be a mix of owned and chartered, the company said. This will ensure that Maersk maintains a strong financial and operational flexibility while continuing to own a significant part of its strategic tonnage.
The vessels come in different sizes, offering great network optionality, the company also said.
The orders will hit a total of 50 to 60, combining both owned and chartered vessels. Some 300,000 TEU will be owned capacity, while the remaining 500,000 TEU is planned through time charger agreements.
Ahmed Hassan, Maersk head of asset strategy and strategic partnership, said the orders will not add to the overall capacity “and over time every vessel coming in will be replacing a scrapped vessel having reached its end of life.”
This ensures that the company maintains its fleet size of around 4.3 million TEU, according to Hassan.
All ordered vessels will be dual-fuel in line with Maersk’s commitment to decarbonization. Use of low emission fuel guarantees the long-term competitiveness of the fleet.
Maersk has opted for a mix of methanol and liquefied gas dual-fuel propulsion systems. The company foresees a multifuel future for the industry, which includes liquefied bio-methane.
Integrated logistics company Maersk previously announced the orders of 25 owned dual-fuel methanol vessels, five in service and 20 on order, providing about 350,000 TEU of dual-fuel capacity.
Maersk operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000. The company is aiming to hit net zero emissions by 2040.
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