Hapag-Lloyd returns to DSME for 6 x dual-fuel ULCS

The order extends the liner-shipping company’s existing order for 6 x 23,500 teu newbuildings to 12. The original order was announced by announced by the liner-shipping company in December 2020.

The newbuildings will be deployed on the Europe–Far East routes as part of THE Alliance and will significantly increase Hapag-Lloyd´s competitiveness in this trade. The engines will operate on LNG, but have sufficient tank capacity to operate alternatively on conventional fuel.

Hapag-Lloyd noted that it regarded operating on liquefied natural gas as a medium-term solution to lowering its environmental emissions, as it reduces CO2 emissions by around 15 to 25 percent and emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter by more than 90 percent. It added that its medium-term goal was to operate net-zero vessels using synthetic natural gas (SNG).

The shipping company confirmed that the six additional newbuildings would be powered by “state-of-the-art high-pressure dual-fuel engines”. The original six newbuildings will be powered by MAN B&W G95ME-GI Mk10.5 main engines, MAN Energy Solutions confirmed on Tuesday 26 January. The main engines were specified with Selective Catalytic Reduction to ensure they would meet Tier III emission standards when operating on conventional fuel.

Hapag-Lloyd did not confirm the expected delivery dates of the latest orders. The Motorship notes that the first six vessels are expected to be delivered from DSME between April and December 2023.