In a ceremony in Japan on 4 April, Maersk’s second large methanol-enabled container vessel was formally named Astrid Mærsk. The ceremony took place in Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama.
Maersk’s CEO Vincent Clerc commented: ‘We are truly excited to welcome Astrid Mærsk to our new fleet capable of sailing on green methanol. With this vessel and her sister vessels, Maersk is taking important steps on the journey towards the energy transition of ocean transport.
‘To enable green supply chains and accelerate shipping’s move towards net-zero emissions, continuous action by dedicated customers like Nissan, industry peers, and suppliers is essential.
‘Importantly, to maintain momentum, there is a need for global regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to close the price gap between fossil and green fuels to secure a level playing field.’
Ane Mærsk, the first in Maersk’s new fleet of 18 large methanol-enabled vessels scheduled for delivery over the next two years, recently completed her first methanol bunkering at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where she took onboard 4,300 tonnes of green methanol and 1,375 tons of biodiesel.
