A new feature of Danish shipping line Maersk’s ECO Delivery service will include the use of green methanol in addition to biodiesel as a second green fuel in the vessel fleet.
The carrier’s holding company, A.P. Moller – Maersk, and e-tail giant, Amazon, have finalised an agreement for the transport of 20 000 FFE (forty-foot equipment) containers using green biofuel for the 2023/24 financial year.
Announced on Wednesday, Maersk estimates the purchase will contribute to a reduction in 44 600 metric tons of CO2 compared to standard bunker fuel, roughly equivalent to 50 million pounds of coal burned.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Amazon and Maersk have arranged container shipping using low-GHG (greenhouse gas) fuel options.
The ECO Delivery biofuel option offers emission reductions that enable immediate and externally verified greenhouse gas savings without compensatory measures like offsetting.
ECO Delivery uses primary data for fuel consumption in the methodology to report emissions savings with greater precision, including other GHGs in addition to CO2.
Amazon’s Global Transportation vice president, Adam Baker, said the company was proud to collaborate with Maersk on solutions to decarbonise maritime shipping.
“We’re excited to have containers on Maersk’s first methanol-enabled feeder vessel and to continue using their biofuel,” he said.
Maersk North America president, Narin Phol, said the line shared a common goal with Amazon to reduce total GHG emissions to net zero by 2040.
“As cosigners of the Climate Pledge we must constantly create new opportunities to make this a decade of action,” Phol said.
Decarbonising shipping is one significant step that is to be combined with many others to protect our future.”
More than 400 companies in 38 countries have signed the Climate Pledge, a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Signatories agree to measure and report GHGs on a regular basis, implement decarbonisation strategies in line with the Paris Agreement, and neutralise any remaining emissions with credible offsets.
