New methanol-fueled vessel class is born as Maersk names 17,480 TEU newbuild

Danish container shipping and logistics giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has named the first vessel in a series of 17,480 TEU vessels equipped with dual-fuel methanol propulsion.

The naming event for the newbuilding, Berlin Mærsk, took place at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) yard in Ulsan, South Korea, on June 18, 2025.

Berlin Mærsk is the fourteenth dual-fuel newbuild entering the Maersk fleet, and it will be followed by additional five sister vessels in this new class of containerships.

“With the launch of the Berlin Mærsk class, we continue to build an ocean toolkit adaptable to multiple fuel pathways. Fleet renewal is essential for maintaining our competitive edge in ocean shipping, and it serves as a cornerstone of our commitment to decarbonisation,”Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering & Newbuilding at Maersk, commented.

On July 7, the 350-meter-long and 56-meter-wide Berlin Mærsk will make its first port call in Shanghai, where it will enter service on Maersk’s AE3 service connecting Eastern Asia with Northern Europe.

As explained, the vessel’s design closely resembles that of the previous Ane Mærsk class, from which the Danish