Maersk orders six 17,000 TEU container ships powered by methanol

Maersk has ordered six more container ships that can run on methanol, which will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and have a capacity of about 17,000 TEUs.

Maersk's methanol-fueled container ship

Maersk's methanol-fueled container ship (Image: Maersk)

These new ships are not expected to increase the capacity of Maersk's fleet but to replace existing vessels. All six 17,000 TEU container ships will be delivered by 2025 and will depart under the Danish flag.

With the latest order, the Copeghagen-based container shipping line has ordered a total of 19 vessels with dual fuel engines that can operate on green methanol. When all 19 ships on order are deployed and replace the older vessels, they will save annual CO2 emissions of about 2.3 million tons.

Green methanol is the best scalable green fuel solution this decade, according to fleet manager & technical director at Maersk, Palle Laursen.

Maersk has set a net zero emissions target by 2040 across its business and also set a short-term target for 2030. This includes a 50% reduction in emissions per shipping container in the Maersk Ocean fleet compared to 2020 and the principle of ordering only new-build ships that can operate on green fuels.

“Our customers are looking to us to decarbonise their supply chains, and these six vessels able to operate on green methanol will further accelerate the efforts to offer our customers climate neutral transport. Global action is needed in this decade in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to a 1.5°C temperature rise," said Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO of fleet & strategic brands at Maersk.

Maersk added that it continues to reiterate its strategy of maintaining fleet capacity at a maximum of 4.3 million TEU, which is a mix of vessels managed and chartered by Maersk over time.

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