Hapag-Lloyd ordering additional green newbuilds. This time in S. Korea

German container shipping heavyweight Hapag-Lloyd shows no signs of pausing orders as it turned to South Korea for another vessel batch.

The Hamburg-based company has allegedly placed an order for six 16,800 TEU boxships at Hanwa Ocean shipyard (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) in South Korea, according to Greek shipbroker Intermodal.

However, Hanwa Ocean told local media that “it is close” to securing the contract with the German shipping giant, however, no final decision has been made.

The vessels, which will have a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual fuel propulsion, are planned for delivery from 2027 onwards.

Hapag-Lloyd will reportedly pay $200 million per unit, bringing the total value of the contract to $1.2 billion.

With the recent order, the world’s fifth-largest container shipping company made a long-expected comeback the South Korean yard, distancing itself from Chinese shipbuilders this time.

To remind, in late 2020 and mid-2021, the European ocean carrier had ordered a dozen of new 23,500+ TEU ultra large container vessels (ULCVs) at the ex DSME yard. Last November, the 23,660 TEU flagship of the Hamburg