A.P. Moller – Maersk has moved forward with the next phase of its fleet renewal programme, signing a contract with China’s New Times Shipbuilding for the construction of eight large container vessels.
The newbuilds will form a fresh series of 18,600 TEU ships, all built to identical specifications and scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030. Rather than pursuing sheer scale, Maersk has opted for a design that balances size with versatility, positioning the vessels below the very largest container ships now entering service.
Head of Chartering and Newbuilding at Maersk, Anda Cristescu, said the order underlines the company’s focus on staying competitive as global shipping evolves. She noted that the agreement supports the ongoing renewal of the fleet while ensuring Maersk retains the flexibility needed to operate efficiently across its network.
Measuring 366 metres in length and 58.6 metres in breadth, the ships are noticeably shorter than the industry’s biggest vessels, some of which stretch close to 400 metres.
According to Maersk, this more compact footprint is a strategic choice, allowing the ships to be deployed across a wider range of trade lanes and ports.
Cristescu emphasised that deployment flexibility played a central role in the decision. While the vessels remain firmly in the large-ship category, their dimensions and design are intended to provide more operational options than the largest container ships currently under construction, both for existing routes and future network developments.
The ships will be fitted with dual-fuel engines, enabling them to operate on conventional bunker fuel as well as liquefied gas, reflecting Maersk’s broader push towards more adaptable and future-ready tonnage.
With this latest contract signed, Maersk now has a total of 33 vessels on order. Four of these are due to be delivered during the remainder of 2026, as the company continues to reshape its fleet for the next decade of global container shipping.