Maersk is taking the next step on its methanol journey, revealing today it has signed with Hyundai Heavy Industries for eight 16,000 TEU ships due for delivery in the first quarter of 2024. The contract for the methanol fuelled ships comes with options for four more to deliver in 2025.

“As an industry first, the vessels will offer Maersk customers truly carbon-neutral transportation at scale on the high seas,” the Danish carrier claimed today.

The newbuilds will come with a dual-fuel engine setup. Additional capital expenditure for the dual-fuel capability, which enables operation on methanol as well as conventional low sulphur fuel, will be in the range of 10-15% of the total price, Maersk revealed.

“The time to act is now if we are to solve shipping’s climate challenge. This order proves that carbon-neutral solutions are available today across container vessel segments and that Maersk stands committed to the growing number of our customers who look to decarbonize their supply chains. Further, this is a firm signal to fuel producers that sizeable market demand for the green fuels of the future is emerging at speed,” commented Soren Skou, CEO, A.P. Moller – Maersk.

Earlier this year, Maersk became the first liner to order a methanol fuelled box ship – a 2,100 TEU feeder ship that will operate in northern Europe when it delivers from Hyundai Mipo. The company has recently also fixed a supply of carbon-neutral methanol to be produced in Denmark.