In 2021, the company announced the construction of eight container ships powered by green methanol with a capacity of 16,000 TEU each. Now four more have been added to them, which should be built at the facilities of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in 2025.
The first vessel out of twelve is scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024. It is expected that its operation will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 million tons per year.
A definite problem for Maersk may be insufficient production of green methanol. At present, they amount to about 30,000 tons per year, while operating a fleet of 12 container ships requires at least 450,000 tons per year. But the company emphasizes that green methanol is not the only fuel being considered for the company’s future ships. Depending on the segment, region of operation and demand, Maersk is considering building ships that would also use other carbon-free fuels.
Source: The Maritime Telegraph