Hapag-Lloyd to intensify Europe – Far East trade with ultra-large hybrid container ships
Hapag-Lloyd intends to increase its fleet sailing between Europe and the Far East. The German shipping line has ordered from the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering six more ultra-large container ships, which are able to sail by using both LNG and conventional fuel.
After ordering the first batch of six ultra-large container vessels with a capacity of over 23,500 TEU in late 2020, Hapag-Lloyd has decided to move further and book six more ships of the same type. As a result, by the end of 2024, the German shipping line will operate 12 ultra-large container ships that will transport containers between Europe and the Far East. Both orders will be fulfilled by the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Hapag-Lloyd will receive the first batch during 2023 while the second batch will be built during 2024. Both orders totally cost around 2 million US dollars.
LNG Dual Fuel
Since Hapag-Lloyd is strongly committed to shifting to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a medium-term solution to replace the conventional diesel fuel, all the ordered ultra large container ships will be hybrid. They will be equipped with a state-of-the-art high-pressure dual-fuel engine that are able to use both LNG and diesel fuel. By using more and more LNG, Hapag-Lloyd intends to reduce CO2 emissions up to 25 per cent. In the future, the German company is planning to operate the container vessels powered by synthetic natural gas (SNG).