World’s first large methanol-powered boxship named “Ane Maersk” in South Korea
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by Admin
Shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) on Friday (26 January) said the world’s first large methanol-enabled container vessel has been named Ane Maersk at a ceremony in the shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel is named after Ane Maersk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the Chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding. Ane’s eldest granddaughter served as godmother and christened the vessel by breaking a champagne bottle over the bow.
Ane Maersk is the first of Maersk’s 18 large methanol-enabled vessels that will be delivered between 2024 and 2025. It is the world’s second methanol-enabled container vessel. In the beginning of February, it will enter service on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to pioneering low-emissions shipping solutions.
The vessels in the new series have an industry-first innovative design with the bridge and accommodation placed at the very front of the vessel, which ensures fuel efficient operations.
Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller-Maersk, said: “This series of vessels will have a transformative impact on our ambition to progress on our industry-leading climate ambitions.”
“It is a visual and operational proof of our commitment to a more sustainable industry. With Ane Maersk and her sister vessels we are expanding our offer to the growing number of businesses aiming to reduce emissions from their supply chains.”
Ane Maersk will begin its maiden voyage on green methanol and Maersk continues to work on 2024-2025 sourcing and bunkering solutions for its methanol-enabled vessel fleet.
Manifold Times previously reported the ship will enter service on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe on 9 February, which includes port calls in Shanghai, Tanjung Pelepas, Colombo and Hamburg, with Ningbo, China, being its first destination.
The container vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea has a nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU) and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine enabling operations on methanol as well as biodiesel and conventional bunker fuel.
In July last year, Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd successfully conducted the world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation of a 2,100-TEU Maersk container vessel at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore.
Maersk’s container vessel – the world’s first container vessel sailing on green methanol – was successfully refuelled with approximately 300 metric tonnes of bio-methanol via Hong Lam Marine’s Singapore-registered tanker, MT Agility, for its onward maiden passage to Copenhagen where it was named Laura Maersk.
Related: Maersk to deploy first large methanol-powered vessel on Asia-Europe trade lane in 2024
Related: Maersk, Yokohama, Mitsubishi in MoU for green methanol bunkering infrastructure
Related: A.P. Møller-Maersk plans to build green bunker fuel infrastructure in Southeast Asia
Related: Maersk and China-based Goldwind sign landmark green methanol bunker fuel offtake deal
Related: World’s first methanol-fuelled boxship christened and named “Laura Maersk”
Related: Singapore bunkering sector enters milestone with first methanol marine refuelling op
Related: Maersk to hold festivities welcoming world’s first green methanol-powered boxship in September
Photo credit: Maersk
Published: 29 January, 2024
