Copenhagen, Denmark – In a move towards sustainable shipping, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) is set to launch its maiden large methanol-enabled vessel on the bustling Asia – Europe trade lane. The vessel, constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, boasts a substantial nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU). On February 9, 2024, it will embark on its maiden voyage, navigating through port calls in Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, Colombo, and Hamburg, with Ningbo, China, as its inaugural destination.
This vessel, a herald of Maersk’s commitment to a Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2040, is equipped with a dual-fuel engine, capable of running on methanol, biodiesel, and traditional bunker fuel. The move aligns with Maersk’s short-term goals for 2030, illustrating tangible steps towards significant emission reductions. To kickstart its green journey, Maersk has secured ample green methanol to fuel the vessel’s inaugural trip, with ongoing efforts to establish sustainable sourcing solutions for the entire methanol-enabled fleet in 2024-25.
Karsten Kildahl, Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk, emphasizes the significance of this milestone, stating, “Deploying the first of our large methanol-enabled vessels on one of the world’s largest trade lanes, Asia – Europe, is a landmark in our journey towards our Net-Zero target.” The vessel’s immense capacity is expected to play a pivotal role in aiding customers’ endeavors to decarbonize their supply chains.
Anticipating the deployment, the vessel is scheduled to be christened at the shipyard in late January 2024. Subsequently, two sister vessels will follow suit in the first half of 2024, with naming ceremonies planned in Yokohama, Japan, and Los Angeles, USA. Maersk anticipates the delivery of an additional four sister vessels in the latter part of 2024.
This vessel, upon deployment, will be only the second container vessel globally capable of sailing on green methanol. The first in this league was the feeder vessel Laura Maersk, which commenced operations in September of the preceding year.
Overview of Maersk vessels on order:
- Maersk has 24 container vessels on order.
- All vessels in the order pipeline will feature dual-fuel engines, facilitating operations on green methanol.
- Among the vessels on order, 12 boast a capacity of 16,000 TEU, six have a capacity of 17,000 TEU, and another six have a capacity of 9,000 TEU.
- Since 2021, Maersk has exclusively ordered vessels capable of operating on green fuels, underlining their unwavering commitment to sustainable practices.
In navigating the seas of change, Maersk continues to steer towards a greener future, underscoring the maritime industry’s collective commitment to environmental stewardship.
