Maersk Orders Eight Dual-Fuel Container Ships to Bolster Fleet

The new series of vessels will each feature a capacity of 18,600 standard twenty-foot containers (TEU). Unlike the industry’s largest ships which often stretch to 400 meters, these vessels are designed with a more compact footprint, measuring 366 meters in length and 58.6 meters in breadth.

Strategic Fleet Modernization

This design choice is intentional, according to Anda Cristescu, Maersk’s head of chartering and newbuilding. Cristescu stated that although the vessels are large, their slightly smaller scale offers greater flexibility than the industry's current behemoths, providing the company with multiple deployment options across its current and future network.

The ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on both conventional bunker fuel and liquefied gas (LNG). This technical specification aligns with broader industry shifts toward flexible fuel strategies. The order brings Maersk’s total pipeline to 33 vessels currently on order, including four ships slated for delivery in the final months of 2026.

While the Danish shipping giant has confirmed the production timeline for 2029 and 2030, the financial terms of the agreement with New Times Shipbuilding remain undisclosed. The move reinforces Maersk's commitment to fleet renewal as it navigates an evolving global logistics landscape.