Maersk Invests in Drydockings and Hull Coatings for Ship Optimisation

Maersk is investing in docking its container ships and recoating their hulls to improve performance and reduce fuel costs. One of the world's largest container operators, the Danish group has identified hull performance as an important contributor to cutting fuel and emissions. It has signed a three-year contract with coatings provider Hempel covering a substantial share of its containership fleet from 2026 to 2028, accelerating joint initiatives to optimise hull performance.

 

Details of the Investment

 

Maersk is investing in vessel optimisation. It will dock its container ships. It will also recoat their hulls. This aims to improve performance. Reducing fuel costs is a key goal.

The company is a major operator. It is among the largest container owners. It identified hull performance as important. This contributes to cutting fuel. It also reduces emissions from voyages.

 

The Strategic Rationale

 

The company took a long-term view. It identified long-term drydocking strategies. Hull-coating strategies were also key. These reduce maintenance expenditure. This compares with short-term approaches.

The timing has commercial relevance. Fuel prices are currently rising. Better hull performance cuts fuel use. This decreases fuel expenditure. It also supports emissions reduction.

 

The Coatings Agreement

 

The company signed a three-year contract. It is with coatings provider Hempel. It covers hull coatings during drydockings. It also covers performance monitoring. The agreement was signed in Copenhagen.

The agreement has broad coverage. It spans a substantial share of the fleet. This runs from 2026 to 2028. It accelerates joint optimisation initiatives. These improve hull performance across vessels.

 

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The Technology

 

The agreement uses specific coatings. Hempel will provide silicone coatings. These are its Hempaguard coatings. They improve hull performance. This reduces drag and fuel use.

The technology has a strong track record. It has been applied over 6,000 times. Calculations show significant emissions savings. These total 43.4 million tonnes of CO2. This compares with conventional coating benchmarks.

 

Significance of the Investment

 

The investment supports efficiency goals. Company leadership cited hull performance. It contributes to fuel efficiency. It also aids emissions reduction ambitions. This underpins the agreement's value.

The agreement enables continued optimisation. It supports innovation across the fleet. Actual savings vary by vessel and use. Factors include trading patterns and speeds. This reflects the varied nature of the fleet.