Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has signed a newbuilding contract with Hanwha Ocean for six 13,000-TEU-class container ships equipped with LNG dual-fuel propulsion.
The vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029 and will join Yang Ming’s existing fleet of large and ultra-large container ships. They are expected to provide core capacity on the company’s key east-west liner services, linking Asia with the East and West Coasts of North America, South America and the Mediterranean.
Each ship will have a capacity of up to 13,650 TEU and will feature LNG dual-fuel propulsion with specifications designed to allow future use of ammonia fuel.
The vessels will also be equipped with Type B LNG fuel tanks operating at a design pressure of 1.0 bar, a configuration intended to improve both the safety and efficiency of LNG operations.
A range of energy-saving technologies will be incorporated into the ships, including Wind Shields, Rudder Bulbs, Pre-Swirl Stators and Shore Power Systems. Smart ship technologies and cybersecurity protection features will also form part of the vessels’ equipment, supporting greater operational efficiency, safety and reliability while helping to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Amid ongoing global supply chain restructuring and market uncertainty, Yang Ming remains committed to the steady development of its core container shipping business while keeping pace with industry advancements,” Yang Ming stated.
The order forms part of Yang Ming’s next-generation fleet optimisation plan, under which deliveries of new vessels began earlier this year. By 2030, the company expects a total of 24 new ships to enter service.
The planned fleet expansion includes 18 LNG dual-fuel vessels: five ships of 15,500 TEU, seven of 16,000 TEU and the six 13,000-TEU-class vessels covered by the latest Hanwha Ocean contract.
The remaining six vessels in the 24-ship programme will be 8,000-TEU ships designed to be methanol dual-fuel-ready.
