As the first in the shipping industry, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) will retrofit an existing ship to a dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel and thereby be able to sail on green methanol. The first engine retrofit in the industry is scheduled to be conducted midway through 2024, and it intends to replicate it on sister vessels when going for a special survey in 2027.
“We have set an ambitious net-zero emissions target for 2040 across the entire business and have taken a leading role in decarbonising logistics. Retrofitting engines to run on methanol is an important lever in our strategy. With this initiative, we wish to pave the way for future scalable retrofit programs in the industry, accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to green fuels. Ultimately, we want to demonstrate that methanol retrofits can be a viable alternative to new buildings,” said Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management and Technology at Maersk.
He continued, “In 2021, we ordered the world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel following a commitment to ordering newbuilt vessels that can sail on green fuels. Concurrently, we have explored the potential of retrofitting existing vessels with dual-fuel methanol engines. Having teamed up with MAN ES, we are ready to demonstrate how retrofitting vessels with methanol dual-fuel capabilities can be done.”
Maersk has signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) to retrofit the engine.
Besides aiming to achieve net zero in 2040, Maersk has also set tangible near-term targets for 2030 to ensure alignment with the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology. This translates to a 50% reduction in emissions per transported container in the Maersk Ocean fleet compared to 2020, and 25% of its container volume will be transported using green fuels by 2030.
Project to begin next year
Replacing engine parts and making the engine able to operate on methanol is a rather complex task, but only a part of the larger retrofit operation. For instance, new fuel tanks, a fuel preparation room and a fuel supply system are also a part of retrofitting the vessel for green methanol.
“Detailed engineering for the first retrofit is ongoing, and the actual implementation will occur in the middle of 2024. Meanwhile, discussions with potential yards are ongoing,” said Ole Graa Jakobsen, Head of Fleet Technology and responsible for the retrofit project at Maersk.
Maersk is currently operating more than 700 vessels, with around 300 of them being owned by Maersk.
อัพเดตข่าวสารและบทความที่น่าสนใจในอุตสาหกรรมโลจิสติกส์ก่อนใคร ผ่าน Line Official Account @Logistics Mananger เพียงเพิ่มเราเป็นเพื่อน @Logistics Manager หรือคลิกที่นี่
