Maersk orders six green methanol-powered container vessels

Maersk, a global leader in shipping and logistics, has placed an order for six mid-sized container vessels that will operate on green methanol.  

The dual-fuel engines of the vessels will enable them to run on environmentally friendly methanol, contributing to Maersk’s commitment to becoming net zero by 2040.  

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group has been chosen to construct the six 9,000 TEU vessels, which are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027. 

Maersk Chief Infrastructure Officer Rabab Boulos expressed the significance of this order in the company’s pursuit of a greener fleet.  

“With this order, we take another step in the green transformation of our fleet and towards our target of becoming net-zero in 2040. As with all our other vessel orders for the last two years, these ships will be able to run on green methanol,” he said. 

This move follows Maersk’s commitment to only ordering new-built vessels that can operate on green fuels.  

With the addition of these six vessels, Maersk now has a total of 25 methanol-enabled vessels on order. The chosen vessel design and size offer exceptional flexibility in deployment, allowing them to serve various functions within Maersk’s existing and future networks.  

Once integrated into the fleet, these vessels will replace older capacity within its supply chain. 

The first methanol-enabled vessel, a 2,100 TEU feeder vessel, is set to be delivered to Maersk later this summer, marking an important milestone in the company’s transition towards cleaner fuel alternatives. 

Delivery is scheduled to start in 2026, with the final vessel expected by March 2027. These ships will feature dual-fuel engines, running on both fuel oil and green methanol and are estimated to reduce Maersk’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 450,000 tons of CO2e when operating on green methanol. 

Maersk’s investment in methanol-enabled vessels marks a significant step forward in the shipping industry’s transition to greener practices, contributing to the company’s ambitious environmental goals and setting a positive example for sustainable shipping worldwide.