Yang Ming acquires three methanol-fuelled containerships under construction in Japan

Taiwanese liner company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has entered into an agreement with Japanese owner Shoei Kisen for the purchase of three 8,000TEU methanol dual-fuel powered container vessels still under construction at the facilities of Imabari Shipbuilding.

The ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2028 and 2029. Each ship is valued between US$113 million and US$120 million while the total value of the transaction is between US$339 million and US$360 million.

This is in line with Yang Ming's announcement at the end of 2024 that it will acquire up to 13 new containerships with capacities of 8,000 and 15,000 TEUs to replace the company's 5,500TEU and 6,500TEU ships, which are now more than 20 years old each.

Excluding the three ships under construction at Imabari Shipbuilding, Yang Ming operates nearly 100 ships, of which 59 are also owned by the company. Another five 15,500TEU ships will be delivered in 2026 by South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industry under a contract worth approximately US$946.62 million.