Container feeder operator X-Press Feeders has signed a green corridors agreement with six ports in northern Europe.
The agreement is designed to develop the first European feeder services using container vessels powered by green methanol.
Two services will be launched by the Singapore-based X-Press in the third quarter of the year and will connect six prominent European ports.
One of the services, branded Green Baltic X-Press (GBX), will operate from Rotterdam-Antwerp-Bruges-Klaipeda and Riga.
A second service, the Green Finland X-Press (GFX), will operate from Rotterdam-Antwerp-Bruges-Helsinki-Tallinn and HaminaKotka.
The plan took a step forwards today with a memorandum of understanding involving the ports of Antwerp, Bruges, Tallinn, Helsinki, HaminaKotka, Riga and Klaipeda.
The ports will collaborate with X-Press to develop infrastructure for the provision and bunkering of alternative fuels including green methanol.
They will also develop green methanol supply chains and train port workers and seafarers in the handling of alternative fuels.
“This MoU represents a significant milestone in our commitment to a sustainable future for the maritime industry,” X-Press chief operating officer Francis Goh said.
“By collaborating with these leading European ports, we can collectively drive the adoption of green technologies that accelerate the decarbonisation of our industry,” he added.
Further step
In February, X-Press announced it had signed a memorandum of agreement with Singapore’s Evergreen Marine to launch its planned methanol-powered feeder network.
X-Press, which claims to be the world’s largest independent feeder container operator, is building a series of 1,200-teu methanol dual-fuel boxships in China that are due for delivery between now and mid-2026.
Last month, Sea Consortium, X-Press’ shipowning arm, took delivery of the methanol dual-fuel container vessel Eco Umande, the first in the series of eight sister ships to be delivered from Chinese yards.
Based out of Rotterdam, where X-Press has a green methanol supply contract with Dutch fuel supplier OCI Global, these ships will initially operate on routes to the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia.
As more vessels are delivered X-Press will expand the route network to other ports in Europe as well as the Mediterranean.
