Hapag-Lloyd Advances Fleet Renewal with 22 New Ships

Hapag-Lloyd is pressing forward with a major fleet renewal plan that will see the German shipping giant invest in as many as 22 new containerships under 5,000 teu.

The Hamburg-based carrier said the initiative is part of its long-term commitment to modernizing and decarbonizing its fleet. The new ships will include a combination of owned and long-term chartered vessels.

The company, led by Rolf Habben Jansen, described the project as a “key milestone” on its journey toward improved efficiency and its target of achieving net-zero operations by 2045.

The investment focuses on smaller vessel categories, a segment currently in high demand. Hapag-Lloyd aims to phase out older ships, reduce reliance on costly charter markets, and lower operational expenses through more fuel-efficient ship designs.

According to market sources, the company has approached Chinese shipyards to construct two series of vessels in the 3,100 teu and 4,500 teu ranges. Brokers indicated that the orders might be divided between Yantai Raffles and Taizhou Sanfu Shipyard, with estimated costs of about $70 million for the larger ships and $60 million for the smaller ones.

If the plan is finalized, Hapag-Lloyd’s total orderbook would increase from 34 to as many as 56 vessels, including both owned and chartered newbuilds. As of the end of September, the company operated a fleet of 305 ships with a total capacity of 2.5 million teu, maintaining its position as the world’s fifth-largest container carrier.