Hapag-Lloyd, Germany's largest liner shipping company, has embarked on a significant newbuilding program. The company signed contracts in October 2024 for the construction of 24 new container ships across two size classes. KfW IPEX-Bank is financing three of these vessels, each with a capacity of 9,200 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit), amounting to approximately USD 281 million. This financing aligns with the Hapag-Lloyd Green Financing Framework and adheres to the Green Loan Principles set by the Loan Market Association.
The overall newbuilding initiative involves ships with a combined capacity of 312,000 TEU and represents an investment of about USD 4 billion. This move aims to solidify Hapag-Lloyd's position as the fifth-largest liner shipping company globally while supporting its decarbonization goals. The company is committed to the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The newly ordered ships will feature advanced low-emission and fuel-efficient high-pressure dual-fuel liquefied natural gas engines and are designed to be ammonia-ready. Additionally, they can operate on biomethane, which can reduce CO2e emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional propulsion systems.