Recently, Maersk held a naming ceremony for its newest methanol dual-fuel container ship, the “Beijing Maersk,” at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard in South Korea.
The “Beijing Maersk” is the second vessel in Maersk’s series of six 17,480 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships. The first ship in the series, the “Berlin Maersk,” was officially named and entered service in June this year, operating on the AE3 route connecting East Asia and Northern Europe.
This series represents the largest methanol dual-fuel container ships in Maersk’s fleet to date and the world’s first 17,000+ TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships. With a length of 350 meters, a width of 65 meters, and a container capacity of 17,480 TEU, these vessels are equipped with methanol dual-fuel engines, serving as another example of Maersk’s commitment to decarbonizing the shipping industry.
It is understood that in February 2021, Maersk signed an order with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Group for the world’s first batch of methanol dual-fuel container ships, including one 2,100 TEU feeder vessel and twelve 16,000 TEU ultra-large container ships. Among them, the 2,100 TEU feeder vessel “Laura Maersk” was delivered in 2023 and named by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, symbolizing Maersk’s leadership in the decarbonization of the shipping industry.
In January 2024, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held a naming ceremony for Maersk’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ship, the “Ane Maersk.” Over the following year and a half, these twelve 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ships were successively named and delivered, marking the successful completion of the world’s first large-scale methanol dual-fuel container ship construction project.
Beyond these 13 vessels, Maersk ordered six 17,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ships from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2022. The recently delivered “Berlin Maersk” and “Beijing Maersk” are the first ships in this series, with the remaining vessels also set to be delivered this year under the Danish flag.
Meanwhile, Maersk has also ordered six 9,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel ships from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027.
According to Maersk’s sustainability goals, the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, at least 10 years ahead of the majority of its peers in the shipping industry. Additionally, Maersk has set nearer-term targets, aiming to reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of its ocean fleet by 50% and the absolute emissions from its fully controlled terminals by 70% by 2030.
