Hapag-Lloyd orders six additional LNG-powered giants at DSME

Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd has ordered six additional ultra large LNG-powered container vessels at South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

DSME revealed the order worth nearly $1 billion on Monday but it only said it would build the 23,500+ TEU vessels for a European owner.

Daewoo will deliver the giant LNG-powered ships in 2024.

Hapag-Lloyd has last year ordered six ultra-large LNG-powered container vessels at the Korean yard for about $1 billion.

The German liner will take delivery of these 23,500+ TEU vessels between April and December 2023.

This puts the total to 12 LNG-powered vessels but Hapag-Lloyd also owns the world’s first converted LNG-powered containership Brussels Express.

Green loan

Hapag-Lloyd said it has financed the six additional ships via a syndicated green loan in the amount of $852 million that has a maturity of 12 years from the date of delivery.

The transaction was concluded in accordance with the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association (LMA) while also being verified by an independent expert in the form of a secondary party opinion of the DNV, it said.

The Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE), and a syndicate consisting of 10 banks have backed the credit facility.

The “most promising fuel” on the path towards zero emissions

The large container ships will feature high-pressure dual-fuel engine that would be “extremely” fuel-efficient.

Their engine will operate on LNG, but the vessels will also have sufficient tank capacity to operate on conventional fuel as an alternative.

Hapag-Lloyd is focusing on liquefied natural gas as a medium-term solution, 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 said.

LNG is currently the “most promising fuel” on the path towards zero emissions.

The medium-term goal is to have ships that operate in a climate-neutral way using synthetic natural gas (SNG), it said.

“With this investment in the additional newbuildings, we want to take another step in the ongoing modernisation of our fleet – in terms of both ship size and sustainability,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd.

“At the same time, we want to meet the persistently high demand and reduce our slot costs,” he said.

Hapag-Lloyd will deploy the new ships on the Europe-Far East routes as part of The Alliance, a shipping consortium consisting of the German liner, ONE, Yang Ming, and HMM.

Most Popular

Woodside terminates Commonwealth LNG SPA

Australian LNG player Woodside has terminated its two LNG sale and purchase agreements with US LNG terminal developer Commonwealth LNG.

Energy Transfer seals Lake Charles LNG supply deals

Texas-based Energy Transfer has signed new supply deals for its planned Lake Charles LNG export facility in Louisiana as it works to take a final investment decision by the end of this year, according to its management.

Thailand in Alaska LNG talks

Thailand's PTT and Egco will engage in further discussions to potentially participate in the development and buy volumes from the planned Alaska LNG project, according to Thailand's Ministry of Energy.

More News Like This

Hanwha Ocean expects LNG newbuild market to recover in second half

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean expects the LNG newbuilding market to recover in the second half of this year due to new US LNG export projects.

Hanwha Ocean starts work on Nakilat’s LNG carrier

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has officially started building Nakilat's first of eight LNG carriers under the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program.

Hanwha Ocean delivers 200th LNG carrier

South Korea's Hanwha Ocean has delivered its 200th liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

Evergreen orders LNG-powered vessels in South Korea and China

Taiwan's shipping firm Evergreen Marine has ordered ultra-large LNG-powered containerships at two yards in South Korea and China.