Maersk levels up methanol bunkering game in Japan with new initiative

Danish shipping heavyweight A.P. Moller–Maersk has taken a significant step towards supporting the development of methanol bunkering in Japan by co-hosting Japan’s first methanol bunkering simulation at the Port of Yokohama.

Alette Maersk, Maersk’s fourth large methanol dual-fuel containership, which was christened in Los Angeles at the end of August, participated in the methanol bunkering simulation. The operation was conducted by Kokuka Sangyo’s methanol tanker Eikamaru.

The company noted that the bunkering simulation marks a significant development following Maersk’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical on the development of methanol bunkering infrastructure in Yokohama.

The new initiative received support from additional stakeholders, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism’s Port and Harbor Bureau.

The involved parties collaborated to test key operations, including berthing, unberthing, and hose connections in an effort to lay the foundation for future methanol bunkering.

“The Ports and Harbors Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced plans to convene a study group to explore the development of methanol bunkering hubs in Japan. Establishing methanol bunkering hubs in our ports is vital, and we will accelerate discussions, leveraging the insights from this simulation,” Nakagawa Kenzo, Director of the Industrial Port Policy Division at the Ports and Harbours Bureau, said.

“It is an honor to participate in the very first simulation of methanol bunkering in Japan. Maersk is committed to a decarbonised future, and it is our great pleasure to support Japan’s ambition in decarbonising the shipping and energy sectors. We look forward to collaborating with the broader industry and ecosystem in Japan to accelerate the adoption and development of lower – emission practices in this country,” Toru Nishiyama, Managing Director, Northeast Asia, Maersk, commented.

Yasuhiro Shimbo, Director General of the Port and Harbor Bureau in the City of Yokohama, also expressed his appreciation to Maersk for facilitating the bunkering simulation on Alette Maersk.

He stressed that the Port of Yokohama is dedicated to developing methanol bunkering capabilities and contributing to the decarbonization of both Japanese and international maritime transport.

Japan is currently in the process of developing methanol fuel bunkering guidelines.

Maersk pointed out that the insights gained from this initiative will serve as valuable references in establishing these guidelines and in developing methanol fuel supply infrastructure and processes in Japan.

To remind, as part of its decarbonization strategy, the Danish shipping major recently revealed it is in the process of signing newbuilding orders and time-charter contracts for dual-fuel vessels to match the planned renewal pace of around 160,000 TEUs per year.

The orders will comprise a total of 50-60 containerships combining both owned and chartered dual-fuel vessels equaling 800,000 TEU. Approximately 300,000 TEU will be owned capacity while the remaining 500,000 TEU is planned through time-charter agreements.

Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and low-emission fuels.