The global fleet of cellular container ships, those designed specifically for the efficient storage of cargo vessels, surpassed 6,500 units for the first time in history , according to Alphaliner .

“As of early March, the total number of fully cellular container vessels stood at 6,464, with a total capacity of more than 31.4 million TEUs (20-foot containers). It’s worth noting that the historic milestone of 6,000 active cellular vessels in service was surpassed by early 2024,” the agency reported.

“Compared to two decades ago, the global active fleet has practically doubled. At the same time, average TEU capacity per vessel has increased by 121.3% over the same period, currently standing at just over 4,850 TEUs and expected to exceed 5,000 TEUs by the end of the year,” he added.

With increased ordering activity during the third and fourth quarters of last year, Aphaliner said it expects to see a fleet of 6,700 cellular containerships with an average vessel capacity of more than 5,400 TEU by the end of 2027.

With information from  Portal Portuario , a media outlet specializing in ports and maritime transport in Chile.

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The Alette Maersk, the first methanol-powered container ship to cross the Pacific Ocean, has arrived at the Port of Los Angeles, California, marking a significant step forward in Danish shipping company A.P Moller – Maersk’s (Maersk) efforts  to decarbonize shipping , according to a company press release.

In this sense, with a length of 350 meters and a capacity of 16 thousand 20-foot containers (TEU) , this ship represents the company’s commitment to reducing emissions, in line with its goal of achieving zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

In this regard, Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc stressed the importance of coordinated global action to address the challenges of decarbonisation in the shipping industry.

“Our new series of dual-fuel ships is just the beginning, but we need immediate and coordinated action across all industries to make green fuels viable,” Clerc said.

He also urged industry leaders and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt regulations that encourage sustainable transport without severely impacting trade costs.

Maersk recalled that the maritime sector is responsible for approximately 3% of global CO₂ emissions and that, despite improvements in energy efficiency, systemic change is required to meet its environmental goals.

The company also plans to have 25% of its cargo transported using low-emission fuels by 2030 , although it acknowledges that achieving this will depend on broader collaboration between governments and regulators.

Green methanol, hailed as a key alternative to decarbonize transport, faces significant challenges due to its cost, which is two to three times higher than fossil fuels, and its limited availability. Despite these barriers, Maersk reported that it has 20 additional vessels on order with the capacity to operate on this fuel.

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