Maersk christens fourth large methanol dual-fuel boxship in Los Angeles (Video)

Danish shipping heavyweight A.P. Moller Maersk has held a christening ceremony for Alette Maersk, its fourth dual-fuel methanol-enabled containership at the Port of Los Angeles.

As informed, snowboarder Chloe Kim, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Nike athlete, became the godmother of the newest eco-friendly boxship at the ceremony which took place on August 27, 2024.

Maersk’s latest boxship is powered by green methanol and boasts a capacity of over 16,000 TEUs. The 350-meter-long containership features several innovative design elements that distinguish it from traditional vessels.

Notably, the crew accommodation and bridge are positioned at the bow, while a single funnel is located at the stern. These design choices are expected to enhance container capacity and improve efficiency during port operations, underscoring Maersk’s commitment to advanced, eco-friendly shipping solutions.

“The shipping industry is vast, complex, and difficult to decarbonise. Our new series of dual-fuel vessels is a start, but it’s not a sustainable solution. We need immediate, coordinated action across all industries. By 2030, we aim to transport 25% of our ocean cargo using low-emissions fuel. But achieving this target requires systemic change. We urgently need regulation that makes green fuels viable and affordable,” Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, commented.

Maersk’s first large methanol-powered vessel, Ane Maersk, was named in January, 2024, during a ceremony at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) in Ulsan, South Korea. The second vessel in this series, Astrid Maersk, was inaugurated in April this year.

This month, Maersk also welcomed its third large dual-fuel methanol-enabled container vessel to its fleet. The vessel was officially christened by Danish wind power major Vestas and named Antonia Maersk at a ceremony held in Denmark.

The Danish shipowner has placed orders for a total of 25 methanol-powered container carriers with South Korean shipbuilding giants HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and Chinese Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group.

These orders include six vessels with a nominal capacity of 17,000 TEUs, ordered in October 2021; twelve 16,000 TEU boxships and one feeder vessel ordered in 2021; and six mid-sized containerships contracted with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group.

Maersk 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, the company revealed.