Container shipping heavyweight Maersk is currently in discussions with equipment suppliers and yards on the order of a methanol-powered containership.
The company announced plans to order the world’s first container vessel that can operate on carbon-neutral methanol in February 2021.
Under the plan, Maersk plans to launch the carbon-neutral liner vessel in 2023, seven years ahead of the initial 2030-ambition.
The vessel will be a methanol feeder with a capacity of around 2,000 TEU and it would be deployed in one of Maersk’s intra-regional networks.
A Maersk spokesperson told Offshore Energy – Green Marine that the concept design for the vessel was finalized, adding that more details would be shared once a contract is signed.
Our publication reached out to the liner major amid market reports that Maersk had signed a contract for the construction of three methanol-powered boxships with South Korean Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.
“As global operator of around 700 vessels A.P. Moller – Maersk is continuously reviewing the fleet composition to ensure it matches current and future operational requirements. This includes reviews and evaluation of the opportunities to charter from 3 rd parties, purchase or sell vessels, as well as ordering of newbuildings,” a statement from the company reads.
Maersk insists that it plans to remain disciplined when it comes to Capex, maintaining a fleet capacity in the 4.0 to 4.3 million TEU range of managed and time-chartered vessels.
When it comes to investments, the container shipping major has vowed to order solely dual-fuel ships in the future, which will be capable of running on a zero-carbon fuel.
Maersk has stood its ground on preferring to switch its ships to zero-emission alternatives to fossil fuels rather than choosing LNG as a bridging fuel for the company’s fleet.
In order to bridge the cost gap between fossil fuels and more expensive green fuels, the world’s largest container shipping company has proposed a carbon tax on ship fuel of at least $450 per ton of fuel.
“Fossil fuels cannot keep being cheaper than green fuels. Action is required now. It is vital to consider all greenhouse gases, not just CO2, on a full life cycle analysis, otherwise we will not be able to truly decarbonize shipping by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement,” Søren Skou , CEO of A.P. Moller Maersk, said.
The company has been a strong supporter of a market based measure to incentivize the sector’s decarbonization process.