Maersk confirms eight large newbuild orders at New Times

Danish shipping giant Maersk has confirmed plans to invest in eight large container ship newbuildings in China.

All eight ships, ordered in New Times Shipbuilding, will have the same characteristics and form a new series of 18,600 teu vessels, with deliveries scheduled in 2029 and 2030.

“We are pleased to have signed this agreement for eight large vessels. The order is part of our ongoing fleet renewal and helps maintain our fleet’s competitive edge,” said Anda Cristescu, head of chartering & newbuilding at Maersk.

The ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines able to operate on conventional bunker fuel or liquified gas.

At 366 meters in length and 58.6 meters in breadth, they are more compact than the current maximum container vessel length of 400 meters.

Cristescu explained that the deployment flexibility has been a key factor in the company’s decision-making. “Although these vessels are large, they offer greater flexibility than the largest ships currently being built in our industry. This provides us with multiple deployment options across both our current and future network,” she said.

Following this new order, Maersk now has 33 vessels on order, with four scheduled for delivery in the remainder of 2026.