by Lloyd's List
MAJOR container lines are setting up more big boxship orders as they advance fleet renewal with alternative-fuelled vessels.
These include a potential new order from CMA CGM, which is expected to sign up for another tranche of large dual-fuel containerships.
Alphaliner reports that the French container line is understood to have issued tenders with Chinese and South Korean shipbuilders for new tonnage of between 17,000 teu and 24,000 teu.
CMA CGM currently has 54 containerships on order, comprising owned and long-term chartered tonnage, with capacities of 18,500 teu and 24,000 teu. All are of liquefied natural gas dual-fuel specification.
The Marseille-headquartered company is also expected to become the first big carrier to build containerships in India. This follows pledges by the Indian government to develop its shipbuilding industry through major investment and subsidies to modernise facilities and expand capacity.
CMA CGM is expected to order at least three gas-fuelled feeder boxships from India’s largest builder of merchant vessels, Cochin Shipyard. CMA CGM first announced plans to order containerships in India in May.
The order would follow Cochin Shipyard’s first ever containership newbuilding contract, signed in 2023 by intra-Europe container line operator Samskip.
The Netherlands-headquartered company signed up for two hydrogen fuel cell-powered containerships, with the first vessel booked to be delivered later this year. The 500 teu vessels will be the first containerships capable of operating on green hydrogen.
Earlier this year, Cochin Shipyard entered into a collaboration agreement with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to improve quality standards and provide workforce training, procurement and ship design.
Alphaliner suggests that CMA CGM’s new Indian-built ships will likely utilise a design based on an existing HHI platform.
CMA CGM has been actively expanding its Indian operations, with investments in terminals and logistics operations. It recently transferred the 3,500 teu CMA CGM Diamond (IMO: 9405033) and the 2,556 teu sister vessels CMA CGM Manaus (IMO: 9434917) and CMA CGM Vitoria (IMO: 9434905) to the Indian ship register.
In March, CMA CGM chairman and chief executive Rodolphe Saadé also pledged to order new containerships from US shipyards for its US-flag operations. However, no detail on CMA CGM’s US plans have been forthcoming.
CMA CGM is one of the few big carriers that operate a fleet of US-flagged containerships — a legacy of its purchase of former American-flag container line APL back in 2016.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Evergreen is also understood to be planning new orders for dual-fuel 15,000 teu boxships.
Evergreen recently took delivery of the last in a series of 20 conventional-fuel containerships of the same capacity, which were ordered from South Korean shipbuilder Samsung in 2021 and delivered from 2023.
The Taipei-headquartered line presently has 45 containerships on order of between 3,000 teu and 16,500 teu, with a combined capacity of more than 700,000 teu.
Maersk, the world’s second-largest container line, is also rumoured to be gearing up for a major fleet expansion, with an order for a new generation of LNG dual-fuel containerships.
Sources say the Danish giant has its sights set on up to 12 vessels, with capacities of at least 18,000 teu.
Finally, South Korea’s HMM is understood to have signed letters of intent for 12 LNG dual-fuelled neopanamax vessels, with capacities of 14,000 teu, at compatriot shipyards.
Eight of the ships are expected to be firmed up at HD Hyundai, while the remaining four are set to built by Hanwha Ocean. HMM is also understood to have plans to order an undisclosed number of smaller ships for its intra-Asia services, with capacities of 1,900 teu and 3,000 teu.
The size of the global containership orderbook has reached an all-time high, fuelling concerns over a potential future glut in boxship capacity.
Latest industry data shows the current order backlog stands at a record 10.5m teu, accounting for some 34% of the total fleet currently in service.
This expansion comes when container shipping is grappling with a wave of uncertainty, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and shifting demand patterns. Despite these headwinds, carriers flush with cash continue to place substantial newbuilding orders.
Container lines argue that their current ordering spree is a strategic move for the long term. Most newbuildings — many of them dual-fuel capable — are intended to replace ageing vessels, rather than simply grow fleet capacity.
