A.P. Moller–Maersk has deployed Tangier Mærsk, the first in a new series of 9,000 TEU methanol-enabled container vessels, marking a key milestone in its fleet renewal and decarbonisation roadmap. The mid-size ship was delivered three months ahead of schedule by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group at its Jingjiang yard in China and will enter service on Maersk’s TP15 route connecting East Asia with the US Gulf Coast via the Panama Canal.
Equipped with a dual-fuel main engine capable of operating on both conventional marine fuels and methanol, Tangier Mærsk is the first of six identical vessels ordered from Yangzijiang as Maersk accelerates the rollout of methanol-ready tonnage across key east–west and regional trades. On its maiden voyage, the vessel will call Shanghai before joining the TP15 loop, where it is expected to offer greater flexibility on deployment while cutting lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when run on green methanol.
Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering & Newbuilding at Maersk, said the delivery underscores the group’s focus on combining competitiveness with sustainability. The new class, with a nominal capacity of 9,000 TEU, has been designed as a versatile mid-size platform that can be redeployed across Maersk’s network as demand and trade patterns evolve. The remaining four vessels in the series are scheduled to be handed over later this year, with the final ship expected in early 2027.
The Tangier series forms part of Maersk’s broader methanol-powered newbuilding programme, which now counts around 25 methanol-enabled vessels either delivered or on order as the carrier targets net-zero emissions by 2040. By replacing older, less efficient ships in a similar size segment, the six 9,000 TEU units are expected to deliver a substantial cut in annual greenhouse gas emissions on a fuel lifecycle basis, especially as green methanol supply scales up in Maersk’s key bunkering hubs.