German container shipping leader Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed orders for at least fourteen new container vessels with methanol dual-fuel engines, placing contracts at two Chinese shipyards.
Six 3,500 TEU vessels will be built by Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering, while eight 4,500 TEU ships are set to be constructed by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore. Both orders include options for additional units – four more for Taizhou Sanfu and six more for CIMC Raffles.
The company is expected to invest $60 million per vessel at Taizhou Sanfu and $70 million per vessel at CIMC Raffles. Delivery dates for the vessels have not been disclosed.
Once delivered, the dual-fuel vessels will operate on methanol, a cleaner alternative to conventional marine fuels. Green methanol, derived entirely from renewable sources, can cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95% and reduce sulfur oxides and particulate matter by over 95%. Even fossil-based methanol offers emission reductions of 7-10%.
Hapag-Lloyd has been exploring methanol propulsion since 2023. Earlier, the company partnered with Seaspan Corporation to retrofit five 10,100 TEU vessels with dual-fuel engines, and signed a deal with Chinese clean energy firm Goldwind to secure 250,000 tonnes of green methanol annually.
