Maersk in Talks with Chinese Shipyards Over Order for Up to 24 Ultra-Large Containerships

Danish carrier A.P. Moller-Maersk is nearing the selection of two Chinese shipyards to finalize an order for up to 24 ultra-large containerships, in a deal valued at around $5.5 billion. The negotiations, revealed by TradeWinds, mark the company's return to the largest vessel segment in the market.

The vessels under discussion are 24,000 TEU ships with dual-fuel LNG engines. According to sources, Chinese shipyards hold a price advantage over South Korean competitors, although no contract has been officially announced so far and the program remains under negotiation. Initial talks had centered on a smaller order of 12 vessels of around 24,000 TEU for approximately $3 billion. Shipyards competing for the contract include China's Hengli Heavy Industry and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean, though Maersk has not confirmed which yards made the final cut nor how a potential order would be split.

An order in the 24,000 TEU segment would push Maersk beyond its second-generation Triple-E vessels, which have a nominal capacity of about 20,568 TEU. The carrier had already confirmed in September 2026 an order for 26 vessels of 18,600 TEU with dual-fuel engines capable of running on LNG, with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030, without disclosing the builder. That order was preceded by a February 2026 agreement with Chinese shipyard New Times Shipbuilding for eight 18,600 TEU vessels, also for delivery in 2029 and 2030, with a length of 366 meters and a beam of 58.6 meters.

According to Alphaliner data cited by Splash 247, Maersk is negotiating exclusively with Chinese shipyards for a series of 12 dual-fuel LNG vessels of 24,000 TEU, with an option for 12 more. At an estimated value of $240 million per unit, the initial program would be worth around $2.88 billion, a figure that would climb to $5.76 billion if all options were exercised. This deal adds to another wave of megamax orders that would also involve Yang Ming, CMA CGM and MSC, in a context where the global containership orderbook already exceeds 15 million TEU and is heading toward 16 million before year-end.

Alphaliner's October monthly report placed contracted capacity at 15.12 million TEU, equivalent to 43.9% of the operating fleet, with a projected fleet expansion of 9.2% in 2027 and 14.4% in 2028. Despite this volume of orders, the charter market remains firm: only 0.8% of the global cellular fleet is idle, and freight rates have reached their highest level in four years. Dual-fuel LNG vessels account for 56% of contracted capacity, compared with 12% for dual-fuel methanol and just under 32% for conventional propulsion.