Maersk retrofits 200 chartered vessels to improve efficiency and cut emissions

According to Maersk, the project involves more than 1,500 completed retrofit activities and a further 1,000 scheduled for completion by 2027. The investments, jointly funded by Maersk and the vessel owners, are designed to improve fuel efficiency and increase cargo-carrying capacity, ultimately reducing slot cost and emissions.

Among the most common modifications are the replacement of propellers and bulbous bows: a change that optimises water flow around the hull to reduce drag and improve hydrodynamic performance.

Additional measures include the installation of Pre-Swirl Devices to maximise thrust efficiency, auxiliary engine waste-heat recovery systems to reduce boiler fuel use, and shaft generator systems that cut auxiliary engine consumption.

“Many of these ships were designed and constructed at a time when container vessels in general were sailing at faster speeds,” said Anda Cristescu, Head of Chartering & Newbuilding at Maersk. “There lies a big efficiency potential in replacing [the propellers and bulbs] optimised for faster speeds.”

Maersk said the retrofits also enhance cargo capacity through structural changes such as raising lashing bridges, elevating wheelhouses for improved visibility, strengthening deadweight capacity for deeper drafts, and upgrading lashing systems and loading computers.

While the company has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its operations by 2040, the retrofit programme focuses on near-term reductions through efficiency gains in its existing fleet. Maersk’s Head of Asset Strategy and Strategic Partnerships, Ahmed Hassan, stated that improving vessel performance in this way “is a powerful tool to gain significant emissions reductions in the short term” ahead of a full fuel transition.

The project forms part of Maersk’s broader decarbonisation strategy, which includes both investments in new green-fuel-ready vessels and upgrades to existing assets to deliver measurable progress towards its 2030 and 2040 climate goals.