30 ships! Hapag-Lloyd is mulling over big orders
Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen has previously stated that Hapag-Lloyd will keep its doors open for newbuildings. The latest news is that Hapag-Lloyd is in the process of approaching shipyards to request quotations for up to 30 LNG dual-fuel container ships.
Specifically, shipbrokers say Hapag-Lloyd is looking to order 10 15,000-16,000 TEU and 10 8,000-9,000 TEU containerships, with five options of each type.
Hapag-Lloyd has commissioned a shipbuilding broker to handle the deal, the sources said. However, another theory says that Hapag-Lloyd's order is a 6+4 structure for each vessel type, i.e., six firm orders and four options. If this is the case, it would mean that the order is for up to 20 ships.
Hapag-Lloyd is said to be opting for the LNG dual-fuel option for this order. However, shipyard sources say Hapag-Lloyd has also requested a quote for the methanol dual-fuel option.
According to shipbuilding brokers, if the LNG dual-fuel option is chosen, the current price of 15,000-16,000 TEU newbuildings is around more than $220 million per ship, while 8,000-9,000 TEU container ships are around $140 million per ship. This means that the large order for up to 30 ships is worth up to $5.4 billion if calculated at 10+5 per type.
A Hapag-Lloyd spokesman said the company does not comment on market speculation. He added, "We have not yet made any decisions on additional newbuildings. However, we are approaching shipyards as part of our day-to-day business and constantly evaluating opportunities to renew our fleet."
Clarksons data shows that more than 140 containerships have been ordered in the first seven months of this year. The total order book for containerships now stands at nearly 700 vessels, or about 18 percent of the current fleet.
Brokers said Duffy Group, Maersk, Pacific International Lines (PIL), Mediterranean Shipping (MSC), Star (Zim) and other headline liner companies are looking to order new containerships themselves or charter new-build containerships from independent shipowners such as Seaspan, and the number could even exceed 100.
In early July, Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said of this wave of up to 100 containership orders, the order book is not so high as to be "dangerous". He added that the German liner giant also needs to order new ships, given the need to replace older vessels and meet its sustainability goals.
He emphasized that the vessels are still five years away from delivery, when market supply and demand dynamics will be different.
Rolf Habben Jansen said, "If anything, we are likewise looking at renewing our fleet, as there are some vessels that need to be taken out of the fleet, they are too old."
"In the meantime, in some markets we will continue to upgrade our services to ensure competitiveness. We must also keep in mind ...... sustainability. So, yes, we will also continue to invest in some newbuildings."
Enhancing Supply Chain "Resilience" and Reliability In short, as the world enters a "time of great strife", the international geopolitical environment is complex and volatile, and different crises are becoming the new normal, the world is calling for a focus on enhancing supply chain "resilience" and "reliability". "Resilience" and reliability, not just ......
In fact, including Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) executive vice president of high Bud Darr and other head liner company executives have recently expressed similar views.
Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen said it is precisely the head of the liner companies to invest in order to build a large number of new ships to enhance the supply chain and the resilience of the maritime industry.
Lars Jensen has made it clear that "are we at a level comparable to the epidemic? Yes, without a doubt. The situation is exactly the same. It was pure luck that we were able to cope with the Red Sea crisis when it broke out. Imagine how much higher freight rates would have been without all these new vessels ordered."