Maersk launches latest dual-fuel methanol vessel Alexandra Maersk
With support from Primark and the UK’s Maritime Minister, this innovative ship aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform the maritime industry
Print10 October 2024
A.P. Moller – Maersk has celebrated the naming of its latest dual-fuel methanol container vessel “Alexandra Maersk”.
UK’s Maritime Minister Mike Kane, representatives of the IMO, customers and Maersk employees joined the festive event at the Port of Felixstowe, UK.
Elaine Condon, director of People & Culture at Primark, is the godmother of the ship, representing the close logistics and sustainability partnership between Maersk and its customer Primark.
Alexandra Maersk
“Alexandra Maersk” is the sixth vessel in Maersk’s owned fleet being able to sail on methanol in its main and auxiliary engines.
It is the fifth ship in a series of 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025. Each can carry more than 16,000 standard containers (TEU).
“It’s a privilege to join the naming ceremony for the ‘Alexandra Maersk’ – one of the first container vessels to run on green methanol. This is exactly the kind of innovation we need to deliver a greener, cleaner maritime sector which is better for people and for our planet,” said UK’s Maritime Minister, Mike Kane.
“Delivering greener transport is one of our top priorities and we will do so by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and investing in alternative fuels and technologies.”
Green fuel alternatives
“We are committed to reducing the impact we have on the environment across our entire operation, including our supply chain,” said Paul Marchant, chief executive officer, Primark.
Through Primark’s partnership with Maersk, it has started to introduce green fuel alternatives, such as Biofuel, when shipping its products.
“By using Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean product and replacing fossil fuels with green fuel alternatives on Maersk’s cargo ships, we are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our ocean shipping.
“This is a really important step for us at Primark as it supports our ambition to halve our carbon emissions across our value chain by 2030,” noted Marchant.
ECO Delivery Ocean
Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean is based on reduced GHG emission fuels like bio-diesel which is used on vessels across the Maersk fleet, and now also green methanol which our newest vessels like “Alexandra Maersk” are capable of sailing on.
“To accelerate the transformation, we need the International Maritime Organization help closing the price gap between green and fossil fuels to make the green choice the best choice for all,” said Vincent Clerc, chief executive officer, A.P. Moller – Maersk.
Clerc stated that last week’s IMO meeting on that matter was a step in the right direction, but much work remains in the coming months.
Clerc remains hopeful and continues to do all in his power to progress the green transition of shipping.
The new methanol enabled ships are at the core of Maersk’s decarbonisation plans as low emission methanol can reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65% to 90% compared to conventional fossil fuels such as bunker oil (depending on the feedstock and production process of the methanol, calculated on a life cycle basis).
Read more: Primark to advance its circular design training among colleagues with new partner
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