HL orders ULCVs
The German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd recently finalised an order for another six 23,500 teu ultra-large containerships, bringing the number of ULCVs in the carrier’s pipeline to twelve. The move “won’t provide immediate relief for the current capacity shortage,” the line said, but underlines its “commitment to satisfying demand.”
The new containerships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines that will operate primarily on LNG, resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions by around 15–25%. Sulphur dioxide and particulate matter emissions will be cut by around 90%. The company said that it’s “only looking at LNG as a medium-term solution. It is the most promising fuel on our path to a zero-emissions future.”
The six ships, which are due to be delivered in 2024 and will be deployed on Europe–Far East services as part of ‘The Alliance’, are being financed through a syndicated green loan of USD 852 million.