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Maersk has announced that in the first quarter of 2024 it will introduce the first in a series of eight large ocean-going container vessels capable of operating on carbon-neutral methanol.

The vessels, to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), are to have a nominal capacity of approximately 16,000 TEU containers.

The agreement with HHI also includes the option for four additional vessels in 2025.

Maersk estimates that the new ships will lead to a reduction in annual CO2 emissions of around 1m tonnes. They come as part of the firm's ongoing fleet renewal program and will replace tonnage of more than 150,000 TEU which is reaching end-of-life and leaving the Maersk managed fleet between 2020 and Q1 2024.

The vessels come with a dual-fuel engine setup. Maersk notes that additional capital expenditure (CapEx) for the dual-fuel capability, which enables operation on methanol as well as conventional low-sulphur fuel, will be in the range of 10–15 percent of the total price.

Maersk says it aims to operate the vessels on carbon-neutral e-methanol or sustainable bio-methanol as soon as possible. Sourcing an adequate amount of carbon neutral methanol from day one in service will be challenging, as it requires a significant production ramp up of proper carbon-neutral methanol production, for which Maersk says it is engaging in partnerships and collaborations with relevant players.

The ships will be designed to have a flexible operational profile, enabling them to perform efficiently across many trades, and add flexibility regarding customer needs. They will feature a methanol propulsion configuration — developed in collaboration with makers including MAN ES, Hyundai (Himsen) and Alfa Laval — which represents a significant scale-up of the technology from the previous size limit of around 2,000 TEU.

Maersk points out that the new vessels will offer its customers truly carbon-neutral transportation at scale on the high seas. More than half of its 200 largest customers have set — or are in the process of setting — ambitious science-based or zero-carbon targets for their supply chains.

As part of Maersk's ongoing collaboration with clients, companies including Amazon, Disney, H&M Group, HP Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, The Procter and Gamble Company, PUMA, Schneider Electric, Signify, Syngenta and Unilever have committed to actively use and scale zero-carbon solutions for their ocean transport, with more expected to follow.

CapEx for the announced vessels is included in the guidance for 2021–2022 of $7bn. Maersk's current strategy is to maintain a fleet capacity in the 4.0 to 4.3m TEU range, as a combination of Maersk managed and time-chartered vessels.

They newly announced ships are to be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping and sail under the Danish flag.

Soren Skou, Maersk CEO, commented: "The time to act is now, if we are to solve shipping's climate challenge. This order proves that carbon neutral solutions are available today across container vessel segments and that Maersk stands committed to the growing number of our customers who look to decarbonise their supply chains. Further, this is a firm signal to fuel producers that sizable market demand for the green fuels of the future is emerging at speed."

Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO, Fleet & Strategic Brands, Maersk, remarked: "We are very excited about this addition to our fleet, which will offer our customers unique access to carbon neutral transport on the high seas while balancing their needs for competitive slot costs and flexible operations. To us, this is the ideal large vessel type to enable sustainable, global trade on the high seas in the coming decades and from our dialogue with potential suppliers, we are confident we will manage to source the carbon neutral methanol needed."