Maersk Confirms Order for Eight 18,600 TEU Boxships

Danish container shipping major Maersk has finalized a contract with China’s New Times Shipbuilding to build eight large container vessels, advancing its ongoing fleet renewal strategy.

The newbuilds will make up a standardized series of 18,600 teu ships, with deliveries planned throughout 2029 and 2030. The company did not disclose the financial details of the agreement.

Maersk’s head of chartering and newbuilding, Anda Cristescu, said the order is intended to strengthen the fleet while ensuring operational adaptability. “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,” she said.

While the vessels fall within the ultra-large container ship category, they have been designed with slightly smaller dimensions than the very largest ships currently being delivered. Measuring 366 meters in length with a beam of 58.6 meters, they are shorter than the 400-meter vessels that now represent the upper end of the market.

According to Cristescu, this sizing reflects a strategic decision. “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, giving us more deployment options across both our current and future network,” she said.

The ships will be fitted with dual-fuel engines, allowing them to operate on either conventional marine fuel or LNG.

Maersk’s fleet currently exceeds 700 vessels, making it the world’s second-largest container carrier. With this latest order, the company has 33 ships on order, including four scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.

The deal also reinforces Maersk’s long-established partnership with the Jiangsu-based shipyard. The carrier is already due to receive multiple series of dual-fuel container ships from New Times, including both owned vessels and long-term chartered units.

Industry sources had earlier suggested that Maersk was linked to a broader order of up to 12 ships of approximately 18,000 teu at the yard, priced at around $193m each, comprising eight firm vessels and four options.