First Ship-to-Ship Methanol Bunkering for a Large Containership Completed

Maersk has achieved two firsts, with its first 16,200 TEU methanol-fuelled containership successfully completing its first ship-to-ship bunkering of green methanol in the South Korean port of Ulsan.

The vessel, the Ane Maersk, conducted the bunkering operation soon after it had left the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan where it was constructed. 

The Ane Maersk represents the first in a series of 18 very large methanol-powered containerships ordered by Maersk. The company is also in the process of sourcing reliable methanol fuel supplies for 2024 and 2025.

Commenting on the first bunkering of the Ane Maersk, Kim Jae-gyun, the president of the Ulsan Port Authority, said: 

“Following the success of the world’s first green methanol PTS (Port-to-Ship) bunkering for containerships in July last year, Ulsan Port has succeeded in green methanol STS (Ship-to-Ship) bunkering for a very large containership. 

We will do our best to proactively respond to the paradigm shift in ship fuel so that Ulsan Port can be reborn as a hub port for sustainable marine fuel supply”.

The Ane Maersk is the world’s second methanol-enabled container vessel and is named after Ane Maersk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the Chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding.

The vessel is expected to enter service at the end of February on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe.

Commenting on the Ane Maersk Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller-Maersk said:

“This series of vessels will have a transformative impact on our ambition to progress on our industry-leading climate ambitions. It is a visual and operational proof of our commitment to a more sustainable industry. With “Ane Maersk” and her sister vessels we are expanding our offer to the growing number of businesses aiming to reduce emissions from their supply chains”.

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