CMA CGM and Maersk are linked to two new programs for the construction of large-capacity container ships that could incorporate new units of around 24,000 TEUs into their respective fleets. The operations have not been officially confirmed by the shipping companies or the shipyards involved and come from information from Alphaliner and MB Shipbrokers collected by several specialized maritime sector media.
In the case of CMA CGM, the project involves the construction of twelve container ships of approximately 24,000 TEUs at the Chinese shipyard Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. MB Shipbrokers had initially reported that one of the leading shipping companies had ordered this series, although without revealing the identity of the shipowner. Alphaliner later indicated CMA CGM as the most likely candidate and points to the signing of a letter of intent for the project.
Available information places the deliveries of the vessels between 2029 and 2030 and points to a dual propulsion configuration using liquefied natural gas (LNG). The market estimates for these units range between $245 million and $250 million per vessel, which would raise the total value of the program to nearly $3 billion.
MB Shipbrokers had previously communicated that Yangzijiang was related to the construction of the twelve units of 24,000 TEUs for a top-level shipping company. Other sources reporting information from the broker indicate that neither the buyer's name, the delivery schedule, nor the contract value had been disclosed at that time.
The Chinese shipyard already has a relationship with CMA CGM in this segment. Yangzijiang is building for the French shipping company a previous series of ten container ships of 24,000 TEUs with dual LNG propulsion. The first units of that program, among them theCMA CGM Notre Dameand theCMA CGM Pantheon, have been delivered during 2026.
At the same time, different market sources place Maersk before a new construction program that could reach up to 42 container ships with an approximate value of $8.9 billion. The plan would include twelve units of around 24,000 TEUs, another 24 of approximately 19,000 TEUs, and six vessels of 18,600 TEUs.
For the series of 19,000 TEUs, industry information points to discussions with the Chinese shipyard Hengli Heavy Industries. The package would be structured into twelve firm units and options for another twelve. For its part, the six units of 18,600 TEUs would be related to the options Maersk holds at New Times Shipbuilding following a previous order for eight vessels of this capacity.
The contracting of the twelve vessels of 24,000 TEUs is still reportedly in the negotiation phase with different Asian shipyards. Hanwha Ocean is among the South Korean builders associated with the process, along with several Chinese shipyards. If realized with this capacity, they would be the largest container ships ordered to date by Maersk.
Discussions about new large-size units had already emerged during August. Alphaliner reported then that several operators located among the ten largest shipping companies were negotiating series of vessels ranging from 20,000 to 24,000 TEUs with shipyards in China and South Korea, while other market information related those projects to MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM.