Hapag-Lloyd has announced a deal with the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for six 23,000+TEU container vessels.
The ultra-large newbuildings, which will be powered by dual-fuel engines using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel fuels are expected to be delivered to the German carrier between April and December 2023.
The vessels will be fitted with high-pressure dual-fuel engines, which will be “extremely fuel-efficient,” said the Hamburg-based company. The engine will operate on LNG, but will have sufficient tank capacity to operate on conventional fuel.
“With the investment in six ultra-large container vessels, we will further reduce our environmental impact,” commented Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd.
The overall investment is estimated at around US$1 billion, according to the Hapag-Lloyd’s announcement, while the respective financing has already been secured.
The German line intends to deploy the new ships on the Europe – Far East services, as part of THE Alliance, a shipping alliance in which Hapag-Lloyd cooperates with Yang Ming, ONE and HMM. Hapag-Lloyd expects the new vessels to increase its competitiveness in this trade.
Rolf Habben Jansen added, “We will not only be able to reduce slot costs and improve our competitiveness on the Europe – Far East trade, but also take a significant step forward in modernising our fleet.”
