In November 2025, LNG Prime reported, citing shipbuilding sources and brokers, that Maersk has selected NTS to build eight LNG dual-fuel vessels.
Maersk announced on Monday that it signed an order of eight large vessels with the Chinese shipbuilder.
All eight ships will have the same characteristics and make up a new series of 18,600-teu vessels with delivery in 2029 and 2030, it said.
At 366 meters in length and 58.6 meters in breadth, these vessels are more compact than the current maximum container vessel length of 400 meters, according to Maersk.
Maersk said the ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of operating on conventional bunker fuel or liquefied natural gas.
Following this new order, Maersk now has 33 vessels on order, with four scheduled for delivery in the remainder of 2026.
Maersk did not reveal the pricing details.
Brokers put the price tag for each vessel at $193 million, or $1.54 billion for eight vessels.
In August l2024, Maersk announced it was in the process of signing newbuilding orders and charter deals for up to 60 dual-fuel containerships, including LNG dual-fuel vessels.
This move represented a significant turn for the shipping company, which had been one of the biggest supporters of methanol-powered ships.
In December 2024, Maersk ordered LNG dual-fuel vessels at China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean.
The shipping firm also placed an order for six LNG dual-fuel vessels, each with a caapcity of approximately 15,000 teu, at New Times.
