Maersk launched the construction of its first 16,200 TEU dual-fuel containerships that can run on green methanol. South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries hosted a steel-cutting ceremony.
The feeder is expected to join Maersk’s fleet in 2023 while the first newbuild from the 16,000 TEU batch is slated for delivery in 2024. The six 17,000 TEU vessels are all to be delivered in 2025 and will sail under the flag of Denmark.
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Maersk has a total of 19 methanol-fueled container carriers on order at Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. These include six vessels with a nominal capacity of 17,000 TEU ordered last October, twelve 16,000 TEU boxships and one feeder ordered in 2021.
The dual-fuel vessels will be capable of burning methanol as well as conventional low sulphur fuel.
This marks the turning point where the project moves from design into reality and we look forward to continuing the good cooperation with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Production will progress fast from this point and the next key stage, factory approval test of the main engine, is expected in Spring 2023
Kristian Agdrup, Lead Naval Architect A.P- Moller – Maersk, said.
Earlier in December, as part of its strategy to decarbonize customers’ supply chains, Maersk has entered a green methanol Letter of Intent with SunGas Renewables, a spin-out of GTI Energy, for the production of green methanol.
The fuel will derive from multiple facilities to be developed by SunGas in the United States from which Maersk intends to offtake full volumes of green methanol.
The first facility is expected to begin operations in 2026 and have an annual production capacity of approximately 390,000 tonnes.
