First Look: Maersk’s First Large Green Methanol-Powered Containership

The world’s first large containership powered by methanol was floated out of its building dock at Hyundai Heavy Industries over the weekend.

The ship is the second of 25 dual fuel ships that Maersk has on order that will be capable of operating on green methanol.

The launch comes after Maersk recently christened the world’s first green methanol-powered containership, the 2,100 TEU Laura Maersk, which is operated on a Baltic shipping route between Northern Europe and the Bay of Bothnia.

The ship launched over the weekend is the first ship in a series of twelve 16,200 TEU capacity ships ordered by Maersk from Hyundai Heavy Industries. In addition, Maersk has placed a separate order for six 17,000 TEU ships at HHI in November 2022. All 18 ships are scheduled to be delivered between 2024 and 2025.

The vessel’s most striking design feature is its forward accommodation, which Maersk states will allow for increased container capacity and improved efficiency while in port.

Maersk placed an additional order for six mid-sized containerships (9,000 TEUs) in June at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China. The deliveries are scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

Maersk is incorporating green methanol as part of its strategy to transition its fleet to sustainable fuels. This includes a policy of exclusively ordering new vessels with a green fuel option. Maersk has set ambitious goals to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and has established near-term targets for 2030 that aim to reduce the carbon intensity of its shipping and ports operations in accordance with the pathway outlined in the Paris Agreement.

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