Yang Ming Marine Transport announced on September 16 that it has signed a contract with South Korea's Hanwha Ocean to build seven 16,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships. Scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029, each vessel will have a capacity of 15,880 TEU. Designed to meet the latest IMO environmental requirements, the ships feature space reserved for future conversion to ammonia dual-fuel propulsion systems, making them the first LNG dual-fuel vessels in Taiwan with ammonia fuel reserve design. The design has received American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) “Level 1C Ammonia Fuel Reserve” certification. The fuel tank design enhances LNG operational safety and efficiency while meeting future shore power connection requirements.

This order expands Yang Ming Marine's LNG dual-fuel fleet to 12 vessels (including the previously ordered five 15,500 TEU-class ships), significantly increasing its proportion of green ships. Ammonia fuel, valued for its zero carbon dioxide emissions, is considered a key next-generation marine fuel option. Modifying existing LNG tanks reduces conversion costs. Yang Ming Marine Transport stated that this strategic deployment prepares the company to meet new international environmental regulations. It will continue advancing fleet renewal and capitalizing on opportunities in niche markets.

Chairman Tsai Feng-ming revealed that Yang Ming Marine Transport is focusing on niche markets, aiming to expand its total capacity to 1.1 million to 1.3 million TEUs by 2032, increasing its global market share from 2.2% to 3% to 3.5%. New vessels will be prioritized for deployment on high-fare, fast-growing routes such as Europe, Central and South America, and intra-Asia to enhance profitability.