A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S has ordered eight sizable containerships from New Times Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., focusing on enhancing fleet flexibility amid volatile freight markets and excess capacity that challenge the container shipping industry. This contract includes eight 18,600-TEU vessels set for delivery in 2029 and 2030, each measuring 366 meters in length and 58.6 meters in width, making them smaller than the current ultra-large container ships nearing 400 meters.
Anda Cristescu, Maersk’s Head of Chartering & Newbuilding, highlighted that operational flexibility was a crucial factor in this decision. While these new ships are large, they offer greater versatility than many of the biggest vessels currently in production, allowing for more deployment strategies across Maersk’s existing and future networks. These ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines, enabling operation on traditional bunker fuel or liquefied gas, a move aimed at hedging against uncertainties while aligning with the industry’s push toward lower-emission fuels.
This order arrives during a challenging period for Maersk’s Ocean division, which recently reported a negative EBIT of $153 million in Q4 2025, marking its first quarterly loss in years, despite an 8% volume increase due to falling freight rates driven by global overcapacity. Looking ahead, Maersk anticipates modest global container demand growth of just 2–4% in 2026, with EBIT forecasts ranging from a $1.5 billion loss to a $1 billion profit, reflecting uncertainties in fleet growth and trade route stability.
With this latest acquisition, Maersk now has 33 vessels on order, including four set for delivery in 2026. The company is also beginning to receive new ships, such as the Tangier Mærsk, the first of six 9,000-TEU methanol-capable vessels. By choosing ships smaller than the largest megamax designs, Maersk emphasizes operational agility over sheer size, adapting to evolving trade patterns, geopolitical disruptions, and ongoing uncertainties regarding global shipping routes like those in the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
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