Maersk secures green fuel for methanol boxship first voyage

Maersk’s first methanol-powered 2,100 teu containership is set to sail from the yard in South Korea to Copenhagen, a voyage of 21,500 km prior to an official naming ceremony in the Danish capital.

The Danish company has signed a deal with OCI for green bio-methanol fuel for the voyage that the company says will provide 65% - 80% lifecycle reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The green methanol is produced by OCI at a plant in the US from captured biogas from decomposing organic waste in landfills. The green methanol will be shipped from the US to South Korea in a product tanker using conventional fuel and the impact of this is factored into the 65% - 80% lifecycle reduction in GHG emissions.

“The green methanol market is still in its infancy and frankly we had not expected to be able to secure a maiden voyage on green methanol for this vessel. So, we are very proud to have achieved this significant milestone. We expect a diverse green fuel mix for the future, with green bio-methanol from biomass waste being available now,” says Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Energy Transition, AP Moller – Maersk.

Maersk has been a first mover in methanol fuelled containerships, but others have followed in their wake with newbuilding orders, including HMM, MSC, and CMA CGM.

Related:EC President Ursula von der Leyen to be Maersk methanol feeder vessel godmother

While green methanol can provide significant GHG reductions supply of the fuel has remained a concern.

Maersk said the maiden voyage would provide real operational experience with methanol as a fuel for its seafarers.

The company aims to transport a minimum of 25% of Ocean cargo using green fuels by 2030.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, will be the godmother to the 2,100 teu vessel at a naming ceremony in Copenhagen on 14 September.