Danish liner giant Maersk has signed a contract with Chinese shipbuilder New Times Shipbuilding for the construction of eight large container vessels, continuing its long-term fleet renewal program.
The ships will form a new series of 18,600 TEU container vessels, built to a common specification, with deliveries planned for 2029 and 2030. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Maersk’s Head of Chartering and Newbuilding, Anda Cristescu, said the deal is aimed at maintaining fleet competitiveness while preserving operational flexibility:
“We are pleased to sign this agreement for eight large vessels. This order is part of our ongoing fleet renewal program and helps maintain the competitive strength of our fleet.”
While firmly positioned in the ultra-large container vessel (ULCV) segment, the new ships will be slightly smaller than the largest container vessels currently entering service. With a length of 366 meters and a beam of 58.6 meters, they are more compact than the 400-meter vessels that are now considered the upper limit of the sector.
Cristescu explained that the dimensions were a deliberate choice:
“Deployment flexibility was a key factor in our decision-making. While these vessels are large, they offer greater flexibility than the very largest ships currently being built in our industry, giving us more deployment options across both our current and future networks.”
The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines, capable of operating on conventional marine fuel as well as LNG, in line with Maersk’s decarbonization strategy.
Maersk operates a fleet of more than 700 vessels and remains the world’s second-largest container shipping company. Following the latest deal, the group’s orderbook now stands at 33 vessels, including four scheduled for delivery during the remainder of 2026.
The order further strengthens Maersk’s long-standing relationship with the Jiangsu-based shipyard. The carrier is already set to receive several series of dual-fuel container ships from New Times Shipbuilding, including both owned vessels and ships chartered on a long-term basis.
Previously, shipbuilding industry sources had linked Maersk to a larger package of up to 12 container ships of around 18,000 TEU, with an estimated price of approximately USD 193 million per vessel, including eight firm orders and four options.
