STX Engine, an independent, publicly listed South Korean engine manufacturer, has announced a supply contract with New Times Shipbuilding—a leading private Chinese shipbuilder—to provide marine engines for 18,600 TEU ultra-large container ships (an order comprising eight firm vessels and six options) commissioned by the Danish shipping giant Maersk. This marks STX Engine’s first major order in the overseas marine engine market.
Under the contract, STX Engine will supply a mix of two eco-friendly dual-fuel engines and two diesel engines for each new vessel—a strategy designed to balance environmental considerations with economic efficiency.
STX Engine stated, “This method of using a mixture of natural gas and diesel not only complies with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) strict environmental regulations but also significantly reduces shipbuilding and operating costs.”
It is reported that in February 2026, Maersk signed a contract with New Times Shipbuilding for the construction of eight 18,600 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships—scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2030—without mentioning the six optional vessels of the same type at the time. Market estimates placed the cost of a single vessel at approximately $190 million; based on this figure, the total cost for all 14 ships (including the options) would reach $2.66 billion.
Maersk stated that this type of container ship—measuring 366 meters in length and 58.6 meters in width—is more compact than the largest container ships currently in service (which are 400 meters long). Equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on either conventional marine fuel or LNG, these vessels represent a key component of Maersk’s ongoing fleet renewal program and will help maintain the fleet’s competitiveness.
The new vessels are designed to the same specifications; upon delivery, they will form a new series of 18,600 TEU-class ships within the Maersk fleet.
It is worth noting that the series of 18,600 TEU container ships ordered earlier this year does not mark the first collaboration between Maersk and New Times Shipbuilding; the two parties had previously signed a contract in 2024 for six 15,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships—Maersk’s first-ever order for LNG dual-fuel vessels and the initial order under its LNG dual-fuel newbuild program. Deliveries for the 2024 container ship order are expected to commence in 2028.