14 September (Lloyd's List) - THE EU Commission president has named the world’s first dual-fuel methanol containership in a ceremony near its owner's headquarters in Copenhagen, today September 14.
Maersk’s 2,136 teu capacity boxship was named Laura Maersk (IMO: 9944546) by the vessel’s godmother, EC president von der Leyen, with Maersk chair Robert Uggla and Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc also in attendance at the ceremony.
“Laura Maersk is a historic milestone for shipping across the globe. It shows the entrepreneurial spirit that has characterised Maersk since the founding of the company,” said Clerc.
“However, more importantly this vessel is a very real proof point that when we, as an industry, unite through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges. This new green vessel is the breakthrough we needed, but we still have a long way to go before we make it all the way to zero.
The newbuilding is the latest in a line of ships owned by the world’s second-largest operator of containerships to have been named Laura Maersk. The first vessel to hold the name was delivered to Maersk joint founder Captain Peter Maersk Moller in 1886.
Maersk said it has a 2040 target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions and aims to transport a minimum of 25% of ocean cargo using green fuels by 2030.
The company is set to take delivery of much larger dual-fuel methanol boxships from next year through to 2027 comprising six 9,000 teu and 16 17,000 teu capacity containerships. In addition, it recently commissioned main engine designer MAN B&W to retrofit 11 15,226 teu vessels built between 2017 and 2019 from next year.
Laura Maersk is set to enter operational service in early October on a Baltic feeder service from Bremerhaven, Germany, to several ports in Denmark and Sweden.
Maersk says bunkering will take place in Rotterdam every five weeks until a bunkering terminal in Aabenraa, Denmark, is available from next year.
Laura Maersk was ordered in June 2021 from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and was delivered to its owner on July 10. The 172 m long, ice-class boxship is classed by ABS and is fitted with 398 reefer sockets. The dual-fuel main engine is a six-cylinder MAN B&W 6G50ME-C9.6-LGIM-HPSCR type which develops 10,320 kW, providing a service speed of 17.4 knots on a draught of 11.4m.
Laura Maersk has a methanol fuel capacity of 1,400 m3 provided in two tanks located forward of the engine room bulkhead. It has a range of 6,000 nautical miles when operating on green methanol.
