A.P. Moller – Maersk has signed a contract with New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in China for the construction of eight large containerships, continuing its fleet renewal programme.
The vessels will form a new series of 18,600 TEU ships, with deliveries scheduled across 2029 and 2030. All eight units will share the same specifications and are designed to offer greater operational flexibility compared with the very largest container vessels currently entering the market.
“We are pleased to have signed this agreement for eight large vessels. The order is part of our ongoing fleet renewal and helps maintain our fleet’s competitive edge,” said Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering and Newbuilding at Maersk.
With a length of 366 metres and a breadth of 58.6 metres, the ships are shorter than the industry’s largest vessels, which can reach up to 400 metres in length. Maersk said this more compact design was a deliberate choice to support flexible deployment across multiple trade lanes.
“Deployment flexibility has been a key factor in our decision-making. Although these vessels are large, they offer greater flexibility than the largest ships currently being built in our industry. This provides us with multiple deployment options across both our current and future network,” Cristescu said.
The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines, capable of operating on conventional bunker fuel as well as liquefied gas.
Following this latest order, Maersk now has 33 vessels on order, with four ships scheduled for delivery during the remainder of 2026.
