New designs may lead to gigamax container ships with 27,500 TEU capacity, surpassing the current 24,000 TEU limit by the 2030s.
The megamax class of container ships, which has been considered the natural upper limit at 24,000 TEU for nearly a decade, could be surpassed with a new ship design. The maritime consultancy firm Alphaliner predicts that evolving ship designs, increasing fuel costs, and carbon pricing could make commercially viable 'gigamax' class container ships with a capacity of approximately 27,500 TEU possible in the 2030s.
Alphaliner has reassessed the gigamax concept, which it first introduced in 2021. The company's theoretical Gigamax-25 design will be approximately 414 meters long and 63.3 meters wide. The largest Megamax-24 class ships currently in service are about 400 meters long and 61 meters wide.
The new design is expected to increase capacity beyond 27,000 TEU by adding an additional cargo hold at the front of the ship and carrying containers in 25 rows on board.
More cargo, limited fuel increase
According to Alphaliner, a gigamax designed to operate at speeds of 18 knots or lower and utilize an LNG dual-fuel propulsion system, when highly optimized, could consume only marginally more fuel than older megamax ships with a capacity of approximately 20,500 TEU.
In contrast, the ship's carrying capacity would increase by about 7,000 TEU. This situation could make larger ships economically attractive, especially during a time when fuel costs and regulations regarding carbon emissions are increasing costs in maritime transport.
Major port transformations may not be necessary
One of the most significant questions surrounding the gigamax concept is whether existing port infrastructure can accommodate ships of this size.
According to Alphaliner's assessment, the new ships being approximately 14 meters longer and 2.5 meters wider may not necessitate significant infrastructure investments at many terminals that currently serve 24,000 TEU ships.
The consultancy firm states that the existing capacity margins of cranes, docks, turning areas, and waterways could accommodate the additional dimensions brought by the gigamax class at many terminals.
Maersk stands out for the first step
Alphaliner identifies Maersk as the most likely shipowner to place the first order for the new class.
Maersk is the only company among the world's eight largest container lines that has not ordered 24,000 TEU class ships, with the average capacity of its largest 31 vessels being around 19,600 TEU.
A gigamax with a capacity of approximately 27,500 TEU could provide about a 40% increase in capacity compared to Maersk's current flagship vessels.
The company's Gemini Cooperation network, which is based on fewer main port calls, also offers a structure suitable for the use of larger ships. Alphaliner also considers MSC and COSCO as other potential candidates for the gigamax class.
New interest from Chinese shipyards
The positive atmosphere in the maritime sector at the SMM Hamburg fair held last week also contributed to the renewed discussion of gigamax. It has been reported that shipyards in China are receiving new requests for large ship orders from leading container lines.
At the previous SMM fair held two years ago, the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute, affiliated with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), announced that it had received in principle approval for a dual-fuel LNG container ship with a capacity of 27,500 TEU.
Order book at record levels
The global container ship order book also reflects the industry's appetite for larger vessels.
Container ship orders worldwide have reached a record level of 14.7 million TEU across 1,795 ships. Ships with a capacity of 10,000 TEU and above account for 68% of the ordered capacity.
This situation indicates that the growth trend in container shipping continues, while the question of whether 27,500 TEU gigamax ships can break the 24,000 TEU limit in the 2030s has become one of the significant discussion topics in the sector.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
