Hamburg, Germany | December 12, 2025 – Hapag-Lloyd AG has accelerated its fleet renewal and sustainability strategy by signing a contract with Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles for the construction of eight new dual-fuel methanol container ships. Each vessel will have a capacity of 4,500 TEU, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2029, and the total investment volume exceeds USD 500 million.
This order represents Hapag-Lloyd’s first newbuild project utilizing methanol propulsion technology, complementing the company’s existing dual-fuel fleet and furthering its commitment to decarbonization and operational efficiency.
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Efficiency and Environmental Impact
The new ships are designed to set a benchmark for low-emission shipping:
- Dual-fuel methanol engines enabling flexible operation.
- Up to 30% higher efficiency compared to older vessels in the same size class.
- Potential to save up to 350,000 metric tons of CO₂e annually when operating on methanol.
These state-of-the-art ships will replace older tonnage, reduce dependence on the charter market, and offer enhanced cost efficiency, positioning Hapag-Lloyd at the forefront of sustainable container shipping.
CEO Rolf Habben Jansen’s Statement
Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen emphasized the strategic significance of the investment:
“Continuously modernizing our fleet is firmly anchored in our Strategy 2030. The new ships will help replace older tonnage, further decarbonize the Hapag-Lloyd fleet, and reduce our dependence on the charter market. What’s more, operating these state-of-the-art ships will be much more cost-efficient.”
In addition, Jansen highlighted the contributions of the Hapag-Lloyd team:
“A big thank-you to all colleagues who contributed to this project, bringing us closer to our decarbonization ambitions every day. Together with our conversion projects, long-term green methanol agreements, and further newbuildings on charter, we are continuing to make meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and competitive fleet for the years ahead.”
Comprehensive Fleet Modernization
The methanol order is part of a broader fleet strategy designed to secure long-term competitiveness and sustainability:
- Growing Dual-Fuel Portfolio: These vessels complement 37 dual-fuel LNG vessels, many capable of operating on biomethane.
- Methanol Conversions: In April 2024, Hapag-Lloyd committed to retrofit five 10,100 TEU vessels with dual-fuel methanol engines, scheduled for 2026–2027.
- Green Fuel Supply: A partnership with Chinese energy producer Goldwind ensures the annual delivery of 250,000 metric tons of green methanol (biomethanol and e-methanol), reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70%.
Long-Term Charter Fleet Expansion
In addition to the owned newbuilds, Hapag-Lloyd has 14 newbuildings under long-term charter across different size classes:
- 1,800 TEU: 4 units
- 3,500 TEU: 6 units
- 4,500 TEU: 4 units
Deliveries are scheduled between 2027 and 2029, bringing the total investment in vessels under 5,000 TEU to 22 units. This approach ensures a modern, flexible, and sustainable fleet, reducing reliance on external charter markets while supporting global logistics operations.
Sustainability Targets
Hapag-Lloyd remains committed to reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2030 (compared to 2022) and achieving net-zero fleet operations by 2045. These ambitious targets, combined with a robust fleet modernization strategy, position Hapag-Lloyd as a global leader in sustainable container shipping.
About Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd is a global leader in liner shipping, operates 305 modern container ships with a total transport capacity of 2.5 million TEU, offering reliable service to over 600 ports worldwide. The company employs approximately 14,000 people across 400 offices in 140 countries.
In the Terminal & Infrastructure segment, Hapag-Lloyd holds equity stakes in 21 terminals across Europe, Latin America, the United States, India, and North Africa, with around 3,000 employees supporting complementary logistics services.
The company also manages one of the world’s largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers, providing state-of-the-art solutions for global supply chains.
Source: Hapag-Lloyd