Maersk orders 26 LNG dual-fuel container ships in fleet renewal push
The order comes as global container shipping faces route fragmentation and capacity shifts.
DENMARK – A.P. Moller – Maersk has ordered 26 large container vessels with a capacity of 18,600 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) each, equipped with dual-fuel engines that can run on liquefied gas, according to the company statement.
Deliveries are expected in 2029 and 2030 as part of the Danish shipping group’s ongoing fleet renewal program.
Fleet strategy
The order focuses on large-scale capacity, with each vessel capable of carrying more than 18,000 standard containers. The order also aligns with Maersk’s broader fleet investment program.
Additionally, the dual-fuel engines enable the ships to run on liquefied natural gas, offering an alternative to conventional marine fuels and supporting the company’s transition to lower-emission operations.
Meanwhile, in the second quarter of 2026, the company reported revenue of US$15.8 billion, up 20% year over year, and raised its full-year guidance to an underlying EBITDA of US$10.5-12.5 billion and an underlying EBIT of US$4.5-6.5 billion, according to its quarterly results.
Port and terminal investments
Maersk has continued to invest in trade infrastructure alongside its fleet expansion. For instance, in Brazil, APM Terminals inaugurated its Suape terminal, a US$350 million investment that made it the continent’s first fully electrified container terminal.
In Vietnam, APM Terminals and Hateco Group signed an agreement with Da Nang City to build and operate the Lien Chieu Container Terminal, representing an investment of over US$1.7 billion.
Industry context
The order comes as global container shipping faces route fragmentation and capacity shifts. Asian port congestion reached 4.3 million TEU in September 2026, according to Linerlytica data, exceeding the 4.0 million TEU stranded at the pandemic’s peak.
As a result, diversions around the Cape of Good Hope are absorbing 5% to 7% of global container capacity, roughly 1.7 to 2.4 million TEU.
Meanwhile, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have gradually resumed services on the Suez Canal, with four additional Gemini Cooperation services, AE5, AE11, AE12, and ME2, transitioning to the trans-Suez corridor.
Lastly, this order reflects Maersk’s long-term fleet renewal strategy, with the company maintaining a focus on dual-fuel capability and large-scale capacity to meet future industrial demand.
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