AP Moller-Maersk has revealed a plan to pioneer methanol dual-fuel engine retrofits for its container ships.
The giant shipowner is working with MAN Energy Solutions on the project to allow more of its vessels to run on green methanol.
The company already has 19 methanol-powered boxships being built.
Now it is targeting the initial retrofit on an unnamed vessel next year, the first of its kind in the industry.
“It is the intent to replicate on sister vessels when going for special survey in 2027,” Maersk said.
Leonardo Sonzio, head of fleet management & technology, added: “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 of 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 programmes in the industry and thereby accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to green fuels.”
The ultimate aim is to demonstrate that methanol retrofits can be a viable alternative to newbuildings.
Sonzio said the company has been exploring the possibility since ordering the first methanol-powered units in 2021.
Maersk admitted replacing engine parts is a complex task, but only a part of the larger retrofit operation.
For example, new fuel tanks, a fuel preparation room and a fuel supply system will be needed.
Yard talks ongoing
“Detailed engineering for the first retrofit is ongoing and the actual implementation will take place in the middle of 2024. Meanwhile, discussions with potential yards are ongoing,” said Ole Graa Jakobsen, head of fleet technology at Maersk.
The carrier has pledged that 25% of its container volumes will be transported using green fuels by 2030.
It knows it has a “mountain to climb” to procure the green methanol it needs, head of energy transition Morten Bo Christiansen told TradeWinds.
The Danish liner giant makes no secret of the fact that supplies of green methanol fall short of what is needed to power even its own fleet — let alone the 100 or so dual-fuel methanol container ships that have been ordered by rivals.
Others point to the enormous price it is paying to pioneer green methanol.
Maersk is forking out $2,500 per tonne to procure the green methanol for the maiden voyage of the 2,100-teu dual-fuel vessel that will be formally named on 16 September by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
That puts green methanol at more than four times the cost of very low-sulphur fuel oil, according to bunker sources.
The greater challenge Maersk faces will be securing green methanol for at least some of the 18 larger newbuildings of 16,000 teu each under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Costing an average of about $180m apiece, the vessels are due in 2024 and 2025.
