A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) has signed agreements with three shipyards in China and South Korea for a total of 20 container vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines. 

Combined, the vessels have a capacity of 300,000 TEU. With these orders, Maersk concluded the intended owned newbuilding orders announced in its August 2024 update of the fleet renewal plan.

“We are pleased to have signed agreements for 20 vessels and thereby completed the acquisition of 300,000 TEU capacity as announced in August,” said Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering & Newbuilding at Maersk.

“These orders are a part of our ongoing fleet renewal program and in line with our commitment to decarbonisation, as all the vessels will have dual-fuel engines with the intent to operate them on lower emissions fuel.”

All 20 ships will be equipped with liquified gas dual-fuel propulsion systems and vary in size from 9,000 to 17,000 TEU.

“Due to their different sizes, the vessels will be able to fill many roles and functions within our future network and give us a lot of deployment flexibility when they are ready to enter our fleet. Once phased in, they will replace existing capacity in our fleet,” Cristescu added. 

The first vessels will be delivered in 2028, and the last delivery will take place in 2030.

The August fleet update further announced the intention to charter a range of methanol and liquified gas dual-fuel vessels totalling 500,000 TEU capacity. Maersk has now finalised these charter contracts across several tonnage providers. When phased in, the charter vessels will replace existing capacity.

Facts about Maersk’s newbuilding orders of 20 vessels:

• 20 dual-fuel vessels ordered with a total capacity of 300,000 TEU
• 2x 9,000 TEU vessels ordered at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China
• 12x 15,000 TEU vessels (6 at Hanwha Ocean, South Korea and 6 at New Times Shipbuilding, China)
• 6x 17,000 TEU at vessels at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China
• The vessels will be equipped with liquified gas dual-fuel propulsion systems

Photo credit: A.P. Moller - Maersk
Published: 4 December, 2024

Latest figures from classification society DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform saw that a total of 27 new orders for alternative fuelled vessels were placed in November 2024.

LNG continues to be the main driver, accounting for 23 vessels, with most of these (15) coming from the container segment. A strong month also for the car carrier segment, with six new LNG-fuelled vessels added to the orderbook.

Four new orders for ammonia-fuelled vessels were also registered.

Although this was a slightly slower month for new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels, it follows a record-breaking month in October, and a strong surge in activity since the summer months. 

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director at DNV Maritime, said: “Although these results show a slowdown of new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels in November, this follows the strongest month ever in October, and the overall trend remains strong.

“LNG remains the headline story with exceptional activity since the summer months. This is clearly being driven by the container segment, where the vast majority of new orders in 2024 have been for alternative-fuelled vessels.”

Related: DNV: October marks strongest month ever for alternative-fuelled newbuild orders

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 3 December, 2024

Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) on Monday (2 December) said it has signed a new agreement with United European Car Carriers (UECC) that will see the vast majority of Liquified Gas supplied by Titan to UECC’s multi-fuel ships to have them run on biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) for the remainder of 2024 and then most of 2025.

This deal expands upon UECC and Titan’s established commitment to using LBM. Since 1 July, over 95% of the fuel delivered to UECC’s pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) by Titan has been LBM; resulting in avoiding more than 30,000 tonnes of green houses gasses emitted.

According to Titan’s analysis, the quantity of LBM in 2025, which Titan and UECC are realistically targeting, will avoid more than 75,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases being emitted.

That reduction is equivalent to the annual emissions of around 10,000 EU citizens or 540 million kilometers driven in an average car. Using LBM over oil-based fuels also virtually eliminates harmful local emissions Black Soot and other Particular Matters (PM), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulphur Oxides (SOx).

Daniel Gent, Energy & Sustainability Manager at UECC, commented: “Through our CO2 registry, this agreement offers our customers the opportunity to significantly reduce their scope three emissions, and we appreciate those that have already jumped at the offer. Toyota Motor Europe, Ford of Europe and another major European vehicle manufacturer quickly signed up to Green Gas Month in July 2024, and following its success every month will now essentially be Green Gas Month!

“The engagement in Sail for Change from our customers, alongside Titan’s in-depth expertise in clean fuel supply and bunkering, have allowed us to almost entirely transition from LNG to LBM, and to swiftly scale up our use of biomethane. With this expansion, we look forward to hearing from more customers who want to reduce their scope three emissions and use sustainable shipping services today.”

Caspar Gooren, Commercial Director Renewable Fuels, said: “As frontrunners with a strong and clear renewable fuels strategy, UECC has been pivotal in propelling the uptake of LBM, and we are excited to be supporting them as they sail towards a sustainable future. This agreement highlights that, just like LNG before it, LBM is quickly becoming a standardised product and gaining popularity as it is recognized as future fuel.

“The LBM delivery scale and consistency we’re able to achieve is, in part, thanks to robust mass balancing processes and related liquefaction LNG terminal infrastructure in the region. It’s now time for the whole of Europe and the world to follow suit. Looking ahead, both Titan and UECC are aligned on the need to geographically expand biomethane supply and diversify waste feedstocks to ensure certified LBM is accessible to those in shipping that want and need it.”

The announcement follows news that UECC has invested in two new multi-fuel car carriers to be delivered in 2028, with the option to add two more. 

Related: UECC in fleet expansion with order of up to four multi-fuel battery hybrid PCTCs

Photo credit: Titan and United European Car Carriers
Published: 3 December, 2024