{"id":7048,"date":"2026-02-09T21:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T21:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/7048\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T21:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T21:57:07","slug":"maersk-orders-8-dual-fuel-containerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/7048\/","title":{"rendered":"Maersk Orders 8 Dual-Fuel Containerships"},"content":{"rendered":"

A.P. Moller \u2013 Maersk A\/S<\/a> has placed an order for eight large containerships at New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., doubling down on fleet flexibility as volatile freight markets and excess capacity continue to pressure the container sector.<\/p>\n

The agreement covers eight 18,600-TEU ships scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2030. At 366 meters long and 58.6 meters wide, the vessels are smaller than today\u2019s ultra-large container ships, which now stretch close to 400 meters.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeployment flexibility has been a key factor in our decision-making,\u201d said Anda Cristescu, Maersk\u2019s Head of Chartering & Newbuilding. \u201cAlthough these vessels are large, they offer greater flexibility than the largest ships currently being built, giving us more deployment options across both our current and future network.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ships will be fitted with dual-fuel engines capable of running on conventional bunker fuel or liquefied gas, allowing Maersk to hedge against uncertainty as the industry works toward lower-emission fuels and longer-term decarbonization targets.<\/p>\n

The order comes at a challenging moment for Maersk\u2019s Ocean division. The carrier reported a negative $153 million EBIT<\/a> in Q4 2025\u2014its first quarterly loss in years\u2014despite an 8% increase in volumes, as freight rates remained under pressure from persistent global overcapacity.<\/p>\n

Maersk expects global container demand growth of just 2\u20134% in 2026 and has issued wide EBIT guidance ranging from a $1.5 billion loss to a $1.0 billion profit, reflecting uncertainty around fleet growth and the timing of any sustained reopening of Red Sea trade routes.<\/p>\n

With the latest deal, Maersk now has 33 vessels on order. Four are scheduled for delivery later in 2026, and the company has already begun taking delivery of new tonnage, including Tangier M\u00e6rsk, the first of six 9,000-TEU methanol-capable vessels.<\/p>\n

By opting for ships smaller than the industry\u2019s biggest megamax designs, Maersk is signaling a preference for operational agility over sheer scale\u2014an approach shaped by shifting trade patterns, geopolitical disruption, and ongoing uncertainty around global routing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.<\/p>\n

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