Taiwanese shipping line Yang Ming announced on July 24 that it will order three additional 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel-ready containerships from Japan's Nihon Shipyard and Imabari Shipbuilding.
The new order, which was approved at a company board meeting, is in addition to three similar vessels purchased in March. This brings the total order for this vessel type to six ships, all of which are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030.
The orders are part of Yang Ming's fleet optimization plan, which includes the addition of up to thirteen new vessels. In addition to the six 8,000 TEU methanol-ready ships, the company also plans to order seven 15,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels.
The newbuilds are intended to replace aging ships of 5,500 to 6,500 TEU that have been in service for over 20 years. The company stated the new 8,000 TEU ships will feature energy-efficient main engines and a methanol dual-fuel-ready design to provide flexibility for evolving fuel availability and regulations.