Maersk Confirms Order for 26 Containerships at 18,600 TEU Each

Maersk confirmed on September 18 it had placed an order for 26 large containerships. Each ship will have a capacity of 18,600 TEU and run on dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas. Deliveries are scheduled across 2029 and 2030.

The order represents roughly 10 percent of Maersk's current operated fleet capacity. Contracts are estimated at over five billion dollars. The 26 ships have been split between two Chinese shipyards, according to trade press citing shipbrokers.

In February 2026, Maersk ordered eight ships with the same specifications from New Times Shipbuilding, also for delivery in 2029 and 2030. The latest order adds 483,600 TEU of capacity to a fleet Alphaliner puts at around 4.73 million TEU currently operated. The Danish carrier had spent several years holding back while MSC, CMA CGM, and COSCO ordered aggressively. That restraint appears to be over.

The order comes as Maersk's key hub infrastructure faces its own pressures. A ransomware attack halted operations at Port of Tanjung Pelepas, a central relay point for the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, disrupting schedules for several days in mid-September.