Maersk deploys first large methanol-capable ship

Hamburg is on the schedule for the first large methanol-capable container ship - New ship design with bridge superstructure at the bow for improved loading capacity

A.P. Møller-Maersk (Maersk) is about to take delivery of the first of its 18 large methanol-capable vessels currently on order from the shipyard. On 9 February 2024, the first newbuild with methanol-capable engines will start sailing on the AE7 service between Asia and Europe, calling at the ports of Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, Colombo and Hamburg, among others (see all port calls in the fact box below). Ningbo in China will be the ship's first destination.

Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea, the container ship has a capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU) and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can run on methanol, biodiesel or conventional bunker fuel.

Maersk has set itself a net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions for the entire company in 2040 (i.e. for land transport, air freight, warehousing and all other areas in addition to sea freight). In addition, there are already specific and ambitious short-term targets for 2030. Maersk has secured sufficient green* methanol to cover the vessel's maiden voyage and continues to work on procurement solutions for 2024-25 for its methanol-capable fleet.

"The deployment of the first of our large methanol-capable vessels on one of the world's largest trade routes, Asia-Europe, is a milestone on our journey towards our Net Zero goal. With a capacity of 16,000 containers, this vessel will have a significant impact on our customers' efforts to decarbonise their supply chains, and we look forward to introducing more methanol-capable vessels on this and other trades in 2024," says Karsten Kildahl, Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk.

Prior to its deployment, the ship will be christened at the shipyard at the end of January 2024. The following two sister ships will be deployed in the first half of 2024, with christenings taking place in Yokohama, Japan, and Los Angeles, USA. Maersk expects four more sister ships to be delivered in the second half of 2024.

The first large methanol-capable newbuilding will be the second container ship in the world that can run on green methanol. The first is the feeder ship "Laura Maersk", which was put into service in September of this year.

Overview of the Maersk ships on order

• Maersk has ordered 24 container ships
• All ships currently on order will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and can run on green methanol
• 12 of the ships on order have a capacity of 16,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit)
• 6 of the ships ordered have a capacity of 17,000 TEU
• 6 of the ships ordered have a capacity of 9,000 TEU
• Since 2021, Maersk only orders new ships that can run on green fuels

Information about Maersk's AE7 service

• The AE7 service connects Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal
• The AE7 port sequence has the following calls: Ningbo, Shanghai, Nansha, Yantian (all China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Port Tangier (Morocco), Felixstowe (UK), Hamburg (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), London Gateway (UK), Le Havre (France), Port Tangier, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Jebel Ali (UAE)

About Maersk:

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics company that makes its customers' supply chains simpler and more efficient. As a leading global provider of logistics services, Maersk operates in 130 countries and employs over 100,000 people worldwide. The company has set itself the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 with new technologies and ships as well as green fuels in all business areas.

*Maersk defines "green fuels" as fuels with low (65-80%) to very low (80-95%) greenhouse gas emissions over their life cycle compared to fossil fuels. Maersk's green fuels and their supply chain are verified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). The methodology for recording emissions is based on GLEC (Global Logistics Emission Council) and is certified by the Smart Freight Centre. We ensure automatically generated performance tracking of Maersk ECO Delivery shipments. Maersk ECO Delivery CO2e reduction certificates are issued. The methodology is audited by PwC in accordance with the International Standard of Assurance Engagements 3410 (ISAE 3410 - Assurance Engagements on Greenhouse Gas Statements), whereby the CO₂e savings are verified for the scope of the Maersk ECO Delivery agreement.