Hapag-Lloyd inks $500m order for eight dual-fuel methanol boxships

_{Photo credit: Preben Olsen}

Germany’s container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has inked a $500m order with Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles.

The Hamburg-based carrier has ordered eight 4,500-TEU container vessels, with deliveries set for 2028 and 2029. The investment volume amounts to more than $500m.

The ordered units will feature dual-fuel methanol engines, offering up to 30 percent greater efficiency than comparable older tonnage and the potential to cut as much as 350,000 metric tons of CO2e annually when using methanol propulsion.

The ships, which are part of Hapag-Lloyd’s first newbuild project involving this sustainable propulsion technology, will complement the growing portfolio of dual-fuel container ships in the company’s fleet: At present, a total of 37 dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) units that can also operate using biomethane are in operation or planned.

In addition, in April 2024, Hapag-Lloyd had already agreed with Seaspan Corporation to have five 10,100 TEU container ships converted to dual-fuel methanol propulsion in 2026 and 2027.

Moreover, in November 2024, Hapag-Lloyd had concluded an agreement with the Chinese energy producer Goldwind for the supply of 250,000 metric tons