Maersk says it is continuing its ‘green transformation’ by ordering six more large ocean-going vessels that can sail on green methanol. The vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) with a nominal capacity of approx. 17,000 TEU each and will replace existing capacity in the Maersk fleet.
“Our customers are looking to us to decarbonise their supply chains, and these six vessels able to operate on green methanol will further accelerate the efforts to offer our customers climate neutral transport,” said Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO of Fleet & Strategic Brands at Maersk. “Global action is needed in this decade in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to a 1.5 degree C temperature rise.”
Maersk has set a net-zero emissions target for 2040 across the entire business and has also set tangible near-term targets for 2030 to ensure significant progress. This includes a 50% reduction in emissions per transported container in the Maersk Ocean fleet compared to 2020 and a principle of only ordering newbuilt vessels that can be operated on green fuels.
With the order, Maersk has in total ordered 19 vessels with dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol.
“Green methanol is the best scalable green fuel solution for this decade, and we are excited to see several other shipowners choosing this path,” said Palle Laursen, Chief Fleet & Technical Officer at Maersk. “It adds further momentum to the rapid scaling of availability needed to bring down the premium on green methanol and accelerate the evolution of climate neutral shipping.”
Benchmarked against conventional fuel capabilities, additional capital expenditure (CAPEX) for the methanol dual-fuel capability is in the range of 8-12%, which is an improvement compared to when Maersk ordered eight vessels with the same technology last year.
The six 17,000 TEU vessels are all to be delivered in 2025 and will sail under the flag of Denmark. They all come as part of Maersk’s ongoing fleet renewal programme and their capacity will replace an equal amount of capacity reaching end-of-life and leaving the Maersk managed fleet.
Maersk further reiterates its strategy of maintaining a fleet capacity at a maximum of 4.3 million TEU, as a combination of Maersk managed and time-chartered vessels.
