Hapag-Lloyd has signed a contract with Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles to build eight 4,500 TEU dual-fuel methanol container ships, reported London's Logistics Manager. The US$500 million investment marks the carrier's first methanol-powered newbuild order, with deliveries due between 2028 and 2029.

The vessels are designed to be 30 per cent more efficient than current ships of similar size. Operating on green methanol, they are expected to cut annual emissions by 350,000 tonnes of CO2, advancing Hapag-Lloyd's Strategy 2030 climate goals.

The order strengthens the company's multi-fuel fleet strategy, which already includes 37 dual-fuel LNG vessels. Supporting measures include a retrofit programme with Seaspan to convert five 10,100 TEU ships by 2027, and a supply deal with Goldwind securing 250,000 tonnes of green methanol annually.

Hapag-Lloyd will also charter 14 feeder vessels ranging from 1,800 to 4,500 TEU to modernise regional networks. Chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen said the investment in sub-5,000-TEU ships will replace ageing tonnage and help achieve a one-third cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The new ships will be integrated into the Gemini Cooperation hub-and-spoke network, offering customers more sustainable "Ship Green" options. The company aims to reach net-zero fleet operations by 2045, five years ahead of the wider industry target.