Taiwanese liner operator Yang Ming Marine Transport has approved plans to order six LNG dual-fuel containerships with a capacity of about 13,000 TEU as part of its fleet renewal and expansion strategy.
The company’s board of directors approved the project, which will see the new neo-panamax vessels gradually replace older ships and units nearing the end of charter contracts in the 4,250–6,500 TEU range.
Yang Ming said the 13,000 TEU design fits well with its existing fleet structure and will complement the company’s fleet of 10,000 TEU vessels. The ships are expected to operate primarily on the main east–west trade lanes linking Asia with North America, South America and the Mediterranean.
The LNG dual-fuel propulsion system is intended to reduce emissions and align the company with tightening environmental regulations while improving long-term fleet efficiency.
The new order forms part of Yang Ming’s broader long-term development strategy. The carrier aims to expand its fleet to about 124 vessels with a total operating capacity of roughly 1.25 million TEU by 2032, targeting a global container shipping market share of between 3% and 3.5%.
Yang Ming currently operates close to 100 vessels and has nearly 20 ships on order. In recent years the company has expanded its fleet through a combination of secondhand neo-panamax purchases and newbuilding contracts.
Last year the Taipei-listed carrier also ordered a series of 8,000 TEU containerships in Japan and 15,000 TEU vessels at shipyards in South Korea as part of the same modernization program. The shipyard selected for the latest 13,000 TEU series and the contract value have not yet been disclosed.
