Orders for up to 44 newbuilds are under way, signalling a containership building boom.
According to Rotterdam’s Offshore Energy, shipping giants Maersk, Evergreen and CMA CGM are the main contenders, with Evergreen emerging as the biggest spender.
The Taiwanese shipping major has reportedly ordered 24 vessels of 16 000-TEU capacity and is said to be paying $4 billion for the vessels – although the line declined to confirm.
Maersk announced an order for six mid-sized container vessels from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, with the 9 000-TEU vessels fitted with dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol and bunker fuel oil. Delivery is set for 2026 and 2027.
Maersk also has options for four additional vessels of the same size under the terms of the contract. The order is valued at around $1.4 billion.
Online portal Shipping Gazette says that while Evergreen and Maersk have committed to methanol as fuel, French shipping giant CMA CGM favours liquefied natural gas (LNG).
CMA CGM has reportedly ordered ten 24 000-TEUers.
