AP Moller - Maersk is set to introduce the first in a series of eight large ocean-going container vessels capable of being operated on carbon-neutral methanol in the first quarter of 2024.
The vessels will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and have a nominal capacity of approximately 16 000 TEUs.
The agreement with HHI includes an option for four additional vessels in 2025. The series will replace older vessels, generating annual CO2 emissions savings of around one million tonnes.
More than half of Maersk’s 200 largest customers have set – or are in the process of setting – ambitious science-based or zero carbon targets for their supply chains, according to a statement.
The vessels come with a dual fuel engine setup. Additional capital expenditure (Capex) for the dual fuel capability, which enables operation on methanol as well as conventional low-sulphur fuel, will be in the range of 10-15% of the total price.
The new vessels come as part of Maersk’s ongoing fleet renewal programme and will replace tonnage of more than 150 000 TEUs which is reaching end-of-life and leaving the Maersk-managed fleet between 2020 and Q1 2024.
Capex for the announced vessels is included in current guidance for 2021-2022 of US$ 7 billion. Maersk has reiterated its strategy of maintaining a fleet capacity in the 4.0 to 4.3 million TEU range, as a combination of Maersk-managed and time-chartered vessels.
