Maersk orders 26 large container ships to renew fleet

Shipping giant Maersk has ordered 26 large container vessels as part of its fleet renewal push. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 10:14 AM MYT

COPENHAGEN, Sept 19 — Danish global shipping giant Maersk said yesterday it had ordered 26 large container vessels as part of an ongoing fleet renewal.

The vessels are expected to be delivered in 2029 and 2030, the company told AFP in an email.

Maersk, the world’s second-biggest container shipping group, did not disclose which shipyards would build the vessels, nor the value of the contracts.

“The vessels will have a capacity of 18,600 TEU (20 foot equivalent unit) and will be equipped with dual-fuel engines able to operate on liquified gas,” the company said.

In mid-August, Maersk raised its full-year earnings guidance as it reported a doubling of profits in the second quarter, driven by strong demand in Asia in particular.

Its profits rose even as the ongoing Mideast war throttled tanker and cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for oil, gas and other crucial industrial products. — AFP