First methanol ship docks in Hamburg
On its route from Asia to Europe, the "Ane Maersk," the world's first large methanol-capable container ship operated by Maersk, made its maiden voyage to the Eurogate Container Terminal Hamburg on 28 March.
With a capacity of more than 16,000 teu, the ship represents the shipping industry's shift towards sustainability, utilising green fuel methanol. The "Ane Maersk" has a unique design to accommodate larger fuel tanks, as methanol has about half the energy content of fossil oil. The ship currently runs on bio-methanol, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about two-thirds compared to fossil fuel.
Maersk plans to use synthetically produced e-methanol in the future, which could further decrease emissions by over 90%. The "Ane Maersk" is part of Maersk's Asia-Europe liner service (AE-7) and is scheduled to call at 14 ports during its round trip. Maersk has 23 more methanol-capable new buildings in the pipeline until 2027. (pb)