Maersk accelerates fleet decarbonisation
The newly ordered container ships will be powered by MAN MAN B&W 8G95ME-LGIM engines
(Source: MAN Energy Solutions)
Maersk has ordered eight methanol-powered container ships, with a nominal capacity of about 16,000TEU, at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for delivery from the first quarter of 2024. The container giant holds options on four more ships of the same type for delivery through 2025.
The new ships will replace older vessels in the Maersk fleet, generating annual CO2 emissions savings estimated at about one million tonnes, the company said. Dual-fuel propulsions will enable the vessels to run on conventional low-sulphur fuel or methanol, and will mean an extra 10-15% on first cost.
The container vessels will be powered by MAN B&W 8G95ME-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) engines, which will be capable of burning bio-methanol and e-methanol.
The move comes as carbon profiles rapidly climb the ESG agenda at many major container line customers. A statement from Maersk revealed that more than half of its largest shippers "have set, or are in the process of setting, ambitious science-based or zero-carbon targets for their supply chains".
