Alternative Fuels

Hapag-Lloyd orders eight new methanol dual-fuel boxships from Chinese shipyard

Hapag-Lloyd signed a contract with CIMC Raffles for the construction of eight 4,500-TEU container ships with investment volume amounting to more than USD 500 million.

Published

7 months ago

December 15, 2025

Admin

Hapag-Lloyd orders eight new methanol dual-fuel boxships from Chinese shipyard

German liner Hapag-Lloyd on Friday (12 December) said it has signed a contract with the Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles for the construction of eight new container ships.

The ordered units will each have a capacity of 4,500 TEU and are scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029. The investment volume amounts to more than USD 500 million.

The new ships will be equipped with state-of-the-art dual-fuel methanol engines. They will be up to 30 percent more efficient than older generations of ships in the same size class and will be able to save up to 350,000 metric tonnes (mt) of CO2e per year when using methanol propulsion.

The ships, which are part of Hapag-Lloyd’s first newbuild project involving this sustainable propulsion technology, will complement the growing portfolio of dual-fuel container ships in the company’s fleet: At present, a total of 37 dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) units that can also operate using biomethane are in operation or planned.

In addition, in April 2024, Hapag-Lloyd had already agreed with Seaspan Corporation to have five 10,100 TEU container ships converted to dual-fuel methanol propulsion in 2026 and 2027.

Moreover, in November 2024, Hapag-Lloyd had concluded an agreement with the Chinese energy producer Goldwind for the supply of 250,000 mt of green methanol per year. The green methanol, which will consist of a mixture of biomethanol and e-methanol, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70 percent and thereby comply with all current sustainability certifications.

Furthermore, it was decided that another 14 newbuildings in the size classes 1,800 TEU (4 units), 3,500 TEU (6 units) and 4,500 TEU (4 units) will be chartered on a long-term basis. The ships will be delivered between 2027 and 2029. As previously announced on November 13, 2025, Hapag-Lloyd is thus investing in a total of 22 new vessels in the segment with a capacity of less than 5,000 TEU.

“Continuously modernising our fleet is firmly anchored in our Strategy 2030. The new ships will help replace older tonnage, further decarbonise the Hapag-Lloyd fleet, and reduce our dependence on the charter market. What’s more, operating these state-of-the-art ships will be much more cost-efficient,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG.

Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Published: 15 December, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

Published

16 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said.

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels.

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026