Record High: 800 Vessels, 9.1 Million TEU – Global Container Ship Orderbook Hits Historic Peak

Despite concerns over "overcapacity" looming like the sword of Damocles over liner companies, industry leaders—including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM Group, Evergreen Marine, Pacific International Lines (PIL), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Wan Hai Lines—continue to aggressively oversubscribe to new vessel orders.

Alphaliner reports that both liner companies and independent container operators remain eager to expand their fleets. Shipyards are currently in discussions with multiple stakeholders, including Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, which recently announced plans to order 13 new vessels: up to six 8,000-TEU dual-fuel-ready ships and up to seven 15,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels.

These strategic moves underscore the industry’s preparation for evolving competitive dynamics in global shipping markets, emphasizing long-term fleet modernization and sustainability through dual-fuel and LNG-powered vessel investments.