Hanwha Ocean scores $1.26 billion order for LNG-powered containerships

Hanwha Ocean said on Thursday it will build six containerships with a capacity of 15,000 teu.

The order is worth about 1.69 trillion won ($1.26 billion) or about $210 million per vessel.

The shipbuilder will deliver the vessels by the end of 2028.

Hanwha Ocean said the vessels were ordered by a European shipowner, but it did not provide further information.

Shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime that Denmark’s Maersk is behind this order.

The vessels will feature type B high manganese tanks.

In August, Maersk said it was in the process of signing new building orders and charter deals for up to 60 dual-fuel containerships, including LNG dual-fuel vessels.

This move represents a significant turn for the shipping company which has been one of the biggest supporters of methanol-powered ships.

Maersk said the orders will reach a total of 50-60 combining both owned and chartered dual-fuel vessels equaling 800,000 teu and ensuring a steady flow of needed capacity for Maersk’s network for the years 2026-2030.

According to Maersk, about 300,000 teu will be owned capacity while the remaining 500,000 teu is planned through time-charter agreements.

With this deal, Hanwha Ocean has received orders worth about $7.35 billion this year for 37 ships, more than doubling last year’s total orders of $3.52 billion.

This includes 12 LNG carriers as part of the giant QatarEnergy shipbuilding program and four LNG carriers for Adnoc L&S.

Hanwha Ocean recently also secured an order for one FSRU worth for $413 million.

This order is linked to Japan’s MOL and Singapore LNG.