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Danish shipping giant Maersk inked agreements with three Chinese and Korean shipyards for 20 container vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines, according to a press release. The vessels — with a combined 300k TEU capacity — are part of Maersk’s fleet development program and its vision towards decarbonization. The first vessels will be delivered in 2028 and the last delivery will take place in 2030.
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A breakdown of the order: Two 9k TEU vessels and six 17k TEU vessels will be delivered by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China, six 15k TEU vessels will be delivered by Hanwha Ocean in South Korea, and six 15k TEU vessels will be delivered by New Times Shipbuilding in China.
We’ve been expecting this: Maersk announced back in August that it would not be increasing its fleet size beyond its current 4.3 mn TEUS through to the end of the decade as part of its revamped newbuild policy. Under the policy, the firm is looking to proceed with orders of dual fuel ships that can use bio-LNG.
The UK looks to expand ETS scope: The UK government is considering input on proposals to expand its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to include emissions from the maritime sector and recognize non-pipeline transport methods — including shipping through road or rail — for moving captured carbon into geological storage, according to a press release published last week. The move would force businesses with ships operating domestic routes to obtain allowances for every tonne of carbon emitted. The proposed change includes an exemption for sites who are actively seeking activities to decarbonize in a bid to help support the UK ETS’ goal of carbon efficient production across its industrial sectors.
What’s ETS, Enterprise? The ETS is a cornerstone of the EU’s climate change policy which launched in January 2024, aiming to efficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme will require shipping companies to purchase allowances for their CO2 emissions. The ETS will require ships entering Europe to pay a carbon tax based on the distance between the last non-EU port to the first EU port, with the exception of the UK, Tangier, and Port Said. You can check out our full explainer here].
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