Yang Ming and Hanwha Ocean sign a contract for six LNG dual-fuel container vessels, enhancing fleet efficiency and sustainability.
Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation ('Yang Ming'), the world's ninth-largest container carrier with an operating capacity of roughly 755,000 TEU, and Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. ('Hanwha Ocean') have officially signed a shipbuilding contract for six 13,000 TEU class LNG dual-fuel container vessels. The agreement was signed by Dr. Chuck Tsai, Chairman of Yang Ming, and Mr. Charles Kim, CEO of Hanwha Ocean, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2029.
The order marks a further step in Yang Ming's fleet renewal program, adding low-carbon tonnage designed to strengthen the reliability and competitiveness of its core East-West services.
Each of the six vessels will offer a capacity of up to 13,650 TEU and feature LNG dual-fuel propulsion together with Ammonia Fuel Ready specifications. The ships will complement Yang Ming's existing fleet of 10,000-plus TEU vessels and serve as key units on East-West trade lanes, with deployment flexibility across routes connecting Asia with the East and West Coasts of North America, South America, and the Mediterranean.
That flexibility matters to cargo owners managing global networks. By positioning larger, fuel-efficient vessels on high-volume corridors, Yang Ming aims to optimize capacity allocation, support dependable transit schedules, and reinforce service continuity across multiple trades.
As Yang Ming advances toward net-zero emissions, LNG provides a mature and economically viable alternative fuel, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20% compared with conventional marine fuels. The Ammonia Fuel Ready design adds a further layer of adaptability: ammonia can serve as a carbon-free fuel using converted LNG storage facilities, offering relatively lower conversion costs alongside comparatively well-developed supply chains and infrastructure.
This dual-path approach positions Yang Ming to respond to increasingly stringent international regulations on greenhouse gas emissions - an advantage for shippers and forwarders who must factor regulatory compliance and environmental reporting into long-term logistics planning.
The vessels will be equipped with Type B LNG fuel tanks with a design pressure of 1.0 bar to enhance the safety and efficiency of LNG operations. A suite of energy-saving technologies will further reduce fuel consumption and emissions, including:
* Wind Shields
* Rudder Bulbs
* Pre-Swirl Stators
* Shore Power Systems
In addition, smart ship technologies and cybersecurity protection features will be incorporated to improve operational efficiency, safety, and reliability. For customers, these systems translate into more consistent performance and stronger protection of the digital infrastructure that supports modern cargo tracking and documentation.
The contract forms part of Yang Ming's next-generation fleet optimization plan, under which deliveries commenced earlier this year. By 2030, a total of 24 new vessels are expected to enter service. This includes 18 LNG dual-fuel vessels - comprising five 15,500 TEU ships, seven 16,000 TEU ships, and the six 13,000 TEU vessels under this contract - alongside six 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel-ready ships.
Amid ongoing global supply chain restructuring and market uncertainty, Yang Ming remains committed to the steady development of its core container shipping business. The company intends to continue advancing fleet renewal, expanding its presence in niche markets, and executing a diversified clean-energy strategy to boost operational efficiency.
This latest order is not simply an addition of tonnage - it is a deliberate move to strengthen service reliability, raise the proportion of low-carbon vessels in the fleet, and deliver comprehensive, dependable service to customers worldwide.
