A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) celebrated the arrival of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel in Singapore, as part of the 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.
Murali Pillai, Singapore Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport said: “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. 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 the series of 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025. Built at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, the vessel can carry 16,592 standard containers (TEU). Seven of these large dual-fuel methanol vessels have joined the Maersk fleet in 2024.
Ditlev Blicher, Maersk President of Asia Pacific said: “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.”
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 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.
The delivery of the dual-fuel fleet is a significant component of Maersk’s decarbonisation goal of achieving net-zero GHG emission by 2040. Lower emission methanol can reduce the 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 IMO member countries to adopt ambitious regulations that bridge the price gap between fossil fuels and the alternatives with lower GHG emissions, making the reduced emissions transport choice viable and competitive.
Image: Naming of Maersk’s latest methanol-fuelled vessel (source: A.P. Moller – Maersk)
