Major container shipping lines Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd are stepping up vessel chartering activity as carriers continue to secure additional tonnage amid a firm containership charter market.
According to data from DynaLiners’ August 2026 market report, charter activity remains strong across several vessel categories, although rate trends vary significantly by ship size. Smaller and mid-sized containerships are commanding higher rates than a year earlier, while larger vessels have recorded weaker year-on-year performance.
Maersk has been particularly active, reportedly chartering the 6,900-TEU Kea for five years at around $40,000 per day. The carrier also secured the 2,600-TEU GSL Chloe for approximately 28–32 months at $25,500 per day.
CMA CGM has also added chartered capacity. The French carrier reportedly fixed the newly delivered 1,800-TEU Seatrade Belgie for 23–25 months at $27,500 per day, while the 1,700-TEU Ca Saigon was chartered for 11–13 months at about $35,500 per day.
Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd renewed its charter of the 1,800-TEU Nordpuma for 26–30 months at a reported rate of $26,400 per day.
The chartering activity comes against a mixed rate environment. New ConTex data showed July 2026 rates for 1,700-TEU ships at $33,025 per day, up 24.2% year on year, while 4,250-TEU vessels reached $58,050 per day, an increase of 12.4%. By contrast, rates for 5,700-TEU and 6,500-TEU vessels declined year on year.
The continued willingness of major carriers to secure vessels for periods extending beyond immediate operational requirements suggests that operators are seeking to lock in capacity while suitable tonnage remains available. Multi-year fixtures also provide carriers with greater certainty over fleet deployment and network planning.
Chartering activity is not limited to the three major liners. Other operators, including GFS, X-Press Feeders and DP World, have also been securing vessels across different size categories, indicating broad demand for available containership tonnage.
The firm charter market reflects continued pressure on vessel availability in parts of the containership fleet. Geopolitical disruptions and changes to global shipping routes have also affected fleet deployment, tightening capacity in some segments and encouraging carriers to secure additional ships.
For shipowners, sustained charter demand provides opportunities to lock in attractive employment for their vessels, while carriers gain additional flexibility to adjust networks and maintain capacity.
The latest fixtures therefore underline the continued strength of the containership charter market, with Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd among the leading carriers actively securing tonnage despite differing conditions across vessel sizes.