MAERSK has secured a supply of green methanol for the maiden voyage of its first methanol-enabled containership.
The company has signed a deal with Dutch producer OCI Global on the delivery of green bio-methanol for the voyage.
In a statement, Maersk said the 21,500-kilometre trip from Ulsan, South Korea to Copenhagen, Denmark will provide real operational experience for Maersk seafarers handling the new engines and using methanol as fuel.
The company is to receive a fleet of new, large ocean-going methanol-enabled ships from 2024.
A.P. Moller – Maersk head of energy transition Morten Bo Christiansen said: “The green methanol market is still in its infancy and frankly we had not expected to be able to secure a maiden voyage on green methanol for this vessel. So, we are very proud to have achieved this significant milestone. We expect a diverse green fuel mix for the future, with green bio-methanol from biomass waste being available now”.
OCI produces its green methanol at a US-based facility by using captured biogas from decomposing organic waste in landfills. The biogas is upgraded to biomethane and injected into the gas grid and the methanol is produced from the biomethane in the grid on a mass-balance basis.
This way, green methanol can be produced in existing facilities using existing infrastructure and plants enabling a quick production. The method can contribute to a greener gas grid while capturing harmful methane emissions that would arise from the waste feedstock if left untouched.
OCI’s green methanol is certified by International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) in accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
