MMG propeller manufactured for 7,500-TEU Ningbo Express (source: MMG)
Hapag-Lloyd is undertaking a massive retrofit programme to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce the carbon intensity of more than 150 ships in its container ship fleet
Technical modernisation of the fleet will involve retrofitting ships with new propellers, bulbous bows and applying specialised anti-fouling paints.
The programme kicked off with the first retrofit propeller loaded in the Port of Hamburg. The five-bladed propeller, manufactured by MMG, will be installed on Hapag-Lloyd’s 7,500-TEU Ningbo Express in Dubai in September. The propeller has a diameter of 9,300 mm and weighs 62 tonnes. Expectations are that the optimised propeller will provide fuel and CO2 savings of 10-13%, depending on the draught and speed of the vessel.
In total, there are plans to equip at least 86 ships with the new and more efficient propellers. At the same time, 36 vessels will receive a new, flow-optimised bulbous bow. During the scheduled drydockings, a resistance-reducing coat of anti-fouling paint will also to be applied to the hulls of all vessels below the waterline.
Hapag-Lloyd said most of the measures will be carried out by 2025 and make a significant contribution to helping the company achieve its climate targets.
“We aim to be climate-neutral by 2045”, said Hapag-Lloyd chief operating officer Maximilian Rothkopf. “To reach this goal, we have set ourselves the interim target of reducing the CO2 intensity of our own ships by 30% by 2030. To do so, we are investing in new future-proof ships while simultaneously focusing on making our existing fleet fit for the future. The fleet upgrade programme will boost the energy efficiency of the entire fleet,” added Mr Rothkopf.
The programme will cost “in the three-digit million range”, said Hapag-Lloyd, which is also investing about US$2Bn to construct 12 LNG-fuelled container ships to meet its sustainability goals.
