German liner giant Hapag-Lloyd is moving ahead with a major fleet renewal programme by investing in up to 22 new containerships in the sub-5,000 TEUs range. The Hamburg-based shipping line said the move forms part of its long-term strategy to modernise and decarbonise its fleet, with the new units expected to be a mix of owned and long-term chartered vessels.
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The investment is a “key milestone” on its path toward greater efficiency and its goal of achieving net-zero fleet operations by 2045. The move will particularly target smaller vessel classes – a high-demand segment where Hapag-Lloyd aims to replace older tonnage, reduce exposure to elevated charter markets, and cut operational costs with more fuel-efficient designs.
Market sources said the company has reached out to Chinese shipyards to build two series of ships in the 3,100 TEUs and 4,500 TEUs ranges. Brokers have suggested that Hapag-Lloyd may split the order between Yantai Raffles and Taizhou Sanfu Shipyard, with indicative prices said to be around US$70 million for the larger vessels and US$60 million for the smaller ones. If finalised, the move would lift Hapag-Lloyd’s orderbook from 34 to as many as 56 ships, including both owned and chartered newbuildings. As of end-September, Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet stood at 305 ships totalling 2.5m TEUs, making it the world’s fifth-largest container carrier.