The first dual-fuel methanol containership in the world was delivered to Maersk today, July 10, from the South Korean shipyard Hyundai Mipo. According to data from DNV, the delivery comes just two years after the bellwether order that caused the worldwide orderbook for methanol-fueled containerships to rise to almost 100 vessels.
The majority of the ship's information, including her official name, won't be revealed until a celebration planned for Copenhagen on September 14 as part of a week of celebrations arranged by the shipping firm. Prior to that, the ship will go from South Korea to Europe over a distance of over 11,000 nautical miles. It was revealed by Maersk and the fuel provider OCI Global that they had obtained enough green methanol to power the whole delivery run as a green trip.
The order, which was placed at the end of June 2021, is officially known as newbuilding Project Solstice and HMD Hull #4168. According to Maersk, the ship is a feeder ship for use on its Baltic routes. It has a nominal carrying capacity of 2,100 TEU, including 400 reefer plugs, and is 564 feet long with a 105-foot beam. Although the name was not disclosed, Laura Maersk can now be seen on the ship's AIS signal. The ship is registered in Denmark and serves as a showcase vessel.
According to Maersk, this ship is offering knowledge about the design and construction of environmentally friendly boats as well as expertise for its fleet of larger methanol-fueled containerships that will begin delivery in 2024.
In a recent company-produced film, Leonardo Sonzio, Maersk's Head of Fleet Management & Technology, explained the difficulties. He lists the difficulties in integrating the new engine technology and the fuel supply system for methanol as design concerns. He claims that the development of this vessel required 5,000 more engineering hours than a typical newbuild. According to some accounts, the ship uses various eco-friendly features, including the capability to run on shore power. Both for the crew of the ship and its shoreside workers, Maersk has started training programs.
Building the infrastructure for bunkering and the supply of green methanol is the second major problem. By placing the bulk of the vessel orders, Maersk feels it has shown early interest in green methanol, and the business is making investments to create a worldwide supply network.
In early April 2023, the new containership docked at the Ulsan shipyard in South Korea. The vessel completed a four-day sea trial in the final week of June. At the naming ceremony, the European Commission’s President will be the godmother of the vessel, marking the beginning of a new era for container shipping.
