Six 13,000 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel container vessels will be delivered between 2028 and 2029, in addition to Yang Ming's existing fleet of 10,000+ TEU vessels.

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) announced on its official website that it had signed a shipbuilding contract with Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Ocean) for six 13,000 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel container vessels. Yang Ming Chairman Dr. Chuck Tsai and Hanwha Ocean CEO Charles Kim signed the contract.

The vessels are scheduled to be delivered 

The vessels are scheduled to be delivered between 2028 and 2029. Yang Ming's existing fleet of 10,000+ TEU vessels will be complemented by these new additions, which will serve as key vessels on East-West services. They will offer deployment flexibility across trade lanes connecting Asia with the East and West Coasts of North America, South America, and the Mediterranean. These new vessels will optimise Yang Ming’s global fleet deployment further, strengthen the competitiveness of its core services, increase the proportion of low-carbon vessels in its fleet and enhance its green competitiveness.

The capacity of each of the new vessels

Up to 13,650 TEU will be the capacity of each of the six new vessels, which will feature LNG dual-fuel propulsion and Ammonia Fuel Ready specifications. As Yang Ming transitions towards net-zero emissions, LNG is a relatively mature and economically viable alternative fuel solution capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 20%.

Related: Yang Ming dry-bulk unit signs contracts for four Handymax bulk carriers

The Ammonia Fuel Ready design

Concomitantly, ammonia can function as a carbon-free fuel by leveraging converted LNG storage facilities, while offering comparatively lower conversion costs and well-developed supply chains and infrastructure. The Ammonia Fuel Ready design will therefore give Yang Ming greater flexibility in responding to increasingly stringent international greenhouse gas emission regulations. The vessels will also 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 range of energy-saving technologies will be incorporated, including wind shields, rudder bulbs, pre-swirl stators and shore power systems. Smart ship technologies and cybersecurity protection features will also be incorporated to enhance operational efficiency, safety and reliability, and to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions effectively.

About: Yang Ming

Yang Ming is committed to the steady development of its core container shipping business. This is despite ongoing global supply chain restructuring and market uncertainty. The company is also keeping pace with industry advancements. Deliveries under Yang Ming’s next-generation fleet optimisation plan 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, seven 16,000 TEU and six 13,000 TEU vessels under this contract — alongside six 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ready ships. Yang Ming will continue to renew its fleet, expand its presence in niche markets and implement a diversified clean energy strategy to boost operational efficiency and provide reliable, comprehensive services to customers worldwide.

About: Hanwha Ocean 

Hanwha Ocean has emerged as a leading global company with extensive expertise and experience in the shipbuilding and offshore industry. Since its inception in October 1973, our shipyard near the Port of Okpo in South Korea’s Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province has played a crucial role in our growth as a world-class shipbuilder. With a focus on advanced technology and innovation, we have continuously pioneered new businesses and now produce a vast range of vessels, including commercial ships, drillships, floating oil production facilities, and specialty ships such as submarines and destroyers. We are also committed to securing new growth engines by anticipating market trends and enhancing our competitive strengths.

#Yang Ming #Hanwha Ocean #Dr. Chuck Tsai #CEO Charles Kim#Ammonia Fuel # the vessels #Port of Okpo