Danish transport and logistics group A.P. Moller – Maersk announced the launch of a large-scale modernization program for nearly 200 container ships operating under time charter agreements. The project, implemented jointly with 50 shipowners, aims to improve fuel efficiency, increase cargo capacity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Maersk and its partners have already invested in more than 1,500 modernization projects, and plans to implement approximately 1,000 more in the next two years. As part of the modernization program, the ships are installing new propellers and bulbous bows, which reduce drag and improve hydrodynamics. Heat recovery systems and shaft generators are also being installed, saving fuel and reducing the load on auxiliary engines.
The modernization also includes structural changes, including raising the wheelhouse for improved visibility, strengthening container lashing bridges, increasing deadweight, and updating load calculation software. By 2030, Maersk aims to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions by 35% compared to 2022 levels, and to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
