Maersk names latest methanol dual-fuel vessel after founder in Singapore

A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) on Thursday (28 November) celebrated the arrival of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel in Singapore today, as part of her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe. 

The vessel, named A.P. Møller in honour of Arnold Peter Møller, the founder of A.P. Moller – Maersk, is the ninth vessel in Maersk’s fleet capable of operating on methanol.

Ms. Chan Su-Shan, the wife of the CEO of Temasek Holdings in Singapore, was the godmother of the “A.P. Møller”. Robert Uggla, Chair of the Board of Directors, A.P. Moller – Maersk hosted the name giving ceremony, which was attended by Mr. Murali Pillai, Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, Mr. Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO of Temasek, Mr. Ong Kim Pong, Group Chief Executive of PSA, Mr. Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), as well as key representatives from the government in Singapore, Maersk customers and employees.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey of decarbonising the maritime industry. The arrival of ‘A.P. Møller’ in Singapore not only showcases the advancements in shipping technology but also reinforces our commitment to support solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mr Murali Pillai, Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport.

“We are glad to collaborate with Maersk and look forward to furthering our efforts to make Singapore a leading hub for new maritime fuels.”

A.P. Møller is part of a series of 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025. Built at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, she can carry 16,592 standard containers (TEU). Seven of these large dual-fuel methanol vessels joined the Maersk fleet in 2024.

Maersk is proud to introduce our newest dual-fuel methanol vessel in Singapore, home to Maersk Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific, and a key part of our Ocean network and integrated supply chain. 

This launch showcases our dedication to decarbonisation in the region. The energy transition of our industry is a joint-effort, and we are collaborating with authorities across the region, including Singapore, to advance decarbonisation initiatives. 

“This effort is further supported by an increasing number of customers choosing our ECO Delivery solutions. Now, we urge the International Maritime Organisation to adopt regulations that close the price gap between fossil and new fuels, encouraging even more customers to come onboard,” said Ditlev Blicher, President of Asia Pacific at Maersk.

In July 2023, the inaugural ship-to-containership methanol bunkering for the Laura Maersk was conducted in Singapore with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. This was also the first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering in the country, marking a long-lasting partnership and support for Singapore’s ambition to supply methanol at scale and become a key offtake location for alternative maritime fuels like methanol.

Photo credit: A.P. Moller – Maersk
Published: 29 November, 2024