AP Moller-Maersk — the methanol first-mover in the container ship sector — is poised to order a series of 16,000-teu newbuildings that could cost more than $2.2bn.

The Danish shipping giant made headlines last year by being the first liner company to invest in methanol dual-fuelled boxship newbuildings. It is now said to be looking to order up to a dozen 16,000-teu vessels, doubling the orderbook of neo-panamax ships to 24.