The world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel has been named ‘Laura Mærsk’ in Copenhagen by the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said: “Laura Maersk is a historic milestone for shipping across the globe. It shows the entrepreneurial spirit that has characterised Maersk since the founding of the company. However, more importantly this vessel is a very real proof point that when we as an industry unite through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges. This new green vessel is the breakthrough we needed, but we still have a long way to go before we make it all the way to zero.”
The name Laura is deeply rooted in the company’s history, being the name carried by Capt Peter Maersk Moller’s first steamship in 1886.
Maersk has an ambitious 2040 target of net zero GHG emissions and aims to transport a minimum of 25% of Ocean cargo using green fuels by 2030. The 2,100 TEU Laura Maersk is an important step toward the long-term objective of gradually renewing the entire Maersk fleet to operate solely on green fuels. Maersk has 24 additional methanol vessels on order for delivery between 2024 and 2027 and a policy to only order new, owned vessels that come with a green fuel option.
Built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, South Korea, the 172m long vessel is classed by ABS with the ability to sail in ice up to 1m thickness, and will operate under the Danish flag. The main engine is a dual-fuel Hyundai – MAN B&W 6G50ME-C9.6-LGIM-HPSCR, rated at 10,320kW, with two Himsen 32DF-LM auxiliaries. With a methanol fuel capacity of 1400 m3 in two tanks, the vessel can sail up to 6,000 naut miles on green methanol. The vessel will operate Bremerhaven- Kiel Canal- Helsingborg- Halmstad-Fredericia-Kalundborg- Kiel Canal – Bremerhaven, and will bunker in Rotterdam every five weeks until the bunkering terminal in Aabenraa is ready. Green methanol fuel will be provided by OCI, Equinor and European Energy.
