On 28 February A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) announced the name-giving of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel in Mumbai as a part of the vessel’s maiden voyage to India. The vessel, named Albert Maersk, is the eleventh vessel in Maersk’s fleet capable of operating on methanol.
‘Albert Maersk’ 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). The delivery of the dual-fuel fleet is a significant component of Maersk’s decarbonisation goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040.
Maersk contributes to this growing economy by facilitating the movement of one in every six containers imported or exported from the country and enabling global trade through its integrated logistics solutions. The company’s footprint in India includes two APM Terminals operations in Mumbai and Pipavav that facilitate the import and export of over three million containers every year, 26 warehouses spread across 350,000 sq. m., and a distribution network that reaches more than 80% of India’s pin codes.
On the backdrop of the name-giving ceremony, Maersk announced that the company sees an investment opportunity pipeline of about USD 5 billion in ports and terminals as well as landside infrastructure development in India.
Bio- and e-methanol can reduce GHG emissions by at least 65% compared to conventional fossil fuels such as bunker oil (depending on the feedstock and production process of the methanol, calculated on a life cycle basis). With the vessel technologies available, Maersk has been urging the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) member states to adopt strong regulations to push the industry forward towards its climate targets. Maersk believes it is critically important that IMO regulation is fuel-agnostic, allowing for a multi-fuel future for shipping as well as making the low-emission transport choice viable and competitive by closing the price gap between fossil and alternative fuels.