Rolf Habben Jansen has dampened expectations that a pilot project to convert neo-panamax containerships to LNG fuel will lead to a flurry of vessels following suit.

The Hapag-Lloyd chief executive believes the cost of converting large boxships needs to come down a long way if retrofits are to be viable.

The Hamburg-based liner operator is proceeding with the retrofit of the 14,993-teu Sajir (built 2014) at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group)-controlled Huarun Dadong Dockyard in Shanghai.