Maersk has confirmed orders for 26 new containerships. The Danish carrier is accelerating its fleet renewal programme amid growing competition in the container shipping market.
All 26 vessels will have a capacity of 18,600 TEU and will be fitted with dual-fuel engines capable of operating on LNG, the company said in a statement. Deliveries are scheduled for 2029 and 2030. Maersk has not disclosed the shipyards involved or the value of the contracts.
The newbuildings will add 483,600 TEU to Maersk’s operated fleet. Alphaliner currently puts the carrier’s operated capacity at around 4.73 million TEU, with another 1.21 million TEU on order.
The latest confirmation follows an order placed with China’s New Times Shipbuilding in February for eight 18,600-TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships, also due for delivery in 2029 and 2030. The newly confirmed vessels may form part of the same newbuilding programme.
At 18,600 TEU, the new ships will be among the largest in the Maersk fleet. The carrier has so far stayed outside the 24,000-TEU ultra-large containership segment. Its largest existing vessels are the two generations of Triple E ships, with capacities ranging from 18,270 to 20,568 TEU.
Maersk had previously pursued a more restrained fleet renewal strategy. In 2024, the carrier said it aimed to replace ageing tonnage while keeping operated capacity at around 4.3 million TEU. The programme covered 50 to 60 new vessels, representing about 800,000 TEU, with around 500,000 TEU expected to come through long-term charters.
Maersk has also stressed the need for greater fleet flexibility as geopolitical disruptions continue to reshape shipping routes. The carrier has begun restoring services through the Suez Canal and Red Sea with Hapag-Lloyd under the Gemini Cooperation, while routing conditions remain uncertain.
