On 9 July 2024 X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, started Europe’s first scheduled feeder network in which the vessels are powered by green methanol, a sustainable marine fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65 per cent.
The industry milestone coincided with the naming and christening ceremony in Rotterdam of X-Press Feeders’ first dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel.
The newly christened vessel, Eco-Maestro, is the first of 14 dual-fuel vessels X-Press Feeders has on order. X-Press Feeders plans to deploy these vessels mostly on routes in Europe, creating Europe’s first feeder network powered by green methanol.
The initiative coincides with the EU’s implementation this year of an emissions trading scheme (ETS) for maritime shipping, creating an impetus for shippers to use more sustainable shipping channels.
Fuel EU Maritime regulations starting in January 2025 will also mandate the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity on energy used on board ships.
X-Press Feeders first methanol-powered feeder network offers services as follows:
Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Helsinki > Tallinn > HaminaKotka > Rotterdam
Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Klaipeda > Riga > Rotterdam
Green bio-methanol is a more sustainable fuel because it is a renewable energy source produced from the decomposition of organic matter, such as waste and residues.
The company chose the Port of Rotterdam as the base for Europe’s first feeder network powered by green methanol because Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port and is fully equipped to handle green methanol refuelling.
The milestone is the result of the extensive collaboration between X-Press Feeders and several other key partners, such as the ports of: Antwerp Bruges, HaminaKotka, Helsinki, Klaipeda, Riga, and Tallinn.
X-Press Feeders, which was founded in Singapore in 1972, is the world’s largest independent common carrier, and now operates a fleet of more than 100 vessels, calling at more than 180 ports worldwide.
X-Press Feeders’ dual-fuel vessels have a capacity of 1,260 TEUs (nominal) at 14 tons, measure 148m overall and the MAN 5S50ME dual-fuel engines are capable of running on conventional fuel or green methanol.
