Hapag-Lloyd's fleet to be enriched with 14 methanol dual-fuel units

German container shipping heavyweight Hapag-Lloyd has placed firm orders at two yards based in China for the construction of at least fourteen methanol dual-fuel container vessels.

According to data released by Greece-based shipbroker Intermodal, Hapag-Lloyd has tapped Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering to build six 3,500 TEU boxships, and Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore (CIMC Raffles) for the construction of eight 4,500 TEU units.

Intermodal has shared that the first contract entails an option for four additional vessels, while the second order includes the possibility for Hapag-Lloyd to exercise an option for six more ships.

As disclosed, the Hamburg-headquartered maritime transport giant is projected to cash out $60 million for each container vessel to be built by Taizhou Sanfu. The company will reportedly splash $70 million for each of the units booked at CIMC Raffles.

The delivery dates for the boxships have not yet been revealed.

Considering the fact that, once completed and delivered, the vessels will arrive with a dual-fuel propulsion system engineered for methanol—a rising alternative fuel source—Hapag-Lloyd’s