Maersk Plans To Order 42 New LNG Dual-Fuel Container Ships In $8.9 Billion Fleet Expansion

Maersk is planning to order 42 new LNG dual-fuel container ships in a fleet expansion worth an estimated $8.9 billion, with Chinese shipyards expected to get most of the work.

The planned order includes 12 ships with a capacity of 24,000 TEU, 24 ships of 19,000 TEU and six ships of 18,600 TEU. If the deal goes ahead, the 24,000-TEU ships will be the largest container ships Maersk has ever ordered.

Hanwha Ocean is the only South Korean shipbuilder competing for the 24,000-TEU ships. It is competing with several Chinese shipyards for the contract.

Maersk is reportedly in talks with China’s Hengli Heavy Industries for the 24 ships of 19,000 TEU. Hengli has an advantage because it can offer earlier delivery dates.

The six 18,600-TEU ships are most likely the optional vessels in Maersk’s existing deal with New Times Shipbuilding.

In February 2026, Maersk signed a contract with the Chinese shipbuilder for eight firm orders and six options for 18,600-TEU container ships.

If Maersk confirms the six options, the total number of 18,600-TEU ships under the deal will reach 14.

New Times Shipbuilding has also recently placed a main-engine order with South Korean manufacturer STX Engine for this batch of ships.

Chinese Shipyards Take Most New Container Ship Orders

Chinese shipyards continue to win most of the new container ship orders placed around the world.

Shipowners ordered 388 container ships in the first half of 2026. Chinese shipyards won more than 80% of those orders, while South Korean shipyards took about 10% to 15%.

Delivery time is one of the main reasons shipowners are choosing Chinese yards. Chinese shipyards can offer earlier delivery dates because they have more production capacity.

South Korean shipyards face capacity limits when they have to build different types of ships at the same time.

Chinese shipbuilders have also continued to improve their technology for dual-fuel container ships. This has helped them attract more orders.

Maersk has increasingly used Chinese shipyards for its new ships since 2024. If the reported deals go ahead, Chinese yards would again take most of the company’s newbuilding programme.

The planned order would also mark a change in Maersk’s fleet strategy.

For years, the company kept its fleet capacity between about 4.0 million and 4.4 million TEU, including during the pandemic freight boom.

Maersk now has 752 ships with about 4.75 million TEU of capacity.

Mediterranean Shipping Company has grown to about 7.4 million TEU since overtaking Maersk as the world’s largest container shipping line in early 2022. The difference between the two fleets is now about 2.7 million TEU.

References: maritimegateway, imarinenews