A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has hosted a ceremony in Yokohama, Japan, to name its second major methanol-enabled container carrier Astrid Maersk.
Liza Uchida, the wife of Nissan CEO, Makoto Uchida, acted as godmother and christened the vessel.
Astrid Maersk is the second of Maersk’s 18 big methanol-enabled tankers, with delivery expected for 2024-2025.
This new fleet series is intended to make a major contribution to Maersk’s net-zero aspirations and assist clients in meeting their decarbonisation objectives.
Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller-Maersk, said: “We are truly excited to welcome Astrid Maersk to our new fleet capable of sailing on green methanol. With this vessel and its 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 courageous 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.”
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Toru Nishiyama, Managing Director of Maersk Northeast Asia, stated: “Yokohama holds a special place in Maersk’s history. Since the first vessel call at the Port of Yokohama a century ago, we have collaborated with our many partners and stakeholders in the city.
“Today’s ceremony symbolises our enduring relationship with Yokohama and Japan as a whole. As we embark on our ‘All the Way to Zero’ journey, the support and partnership of the Japanese community are invaluable.
“We will continue to prioritise our efforts to minimise the environmental and climate impact of our activities while fostering economic growth and prosperity in the region.”
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Maersk has set a science-based net-zero GHG emissions objective for 2040 throughout the whole company, as well as realistic and ambitious near-term targets for 2030, to guarantee considerable progress.
The shipping line will reportedly outfit 25 of its containerships with dual-fuel engines capable of running on green methanol.
These vessels include the feeder vessel Laura Maersk, deployed in the intra-Europe trade in September 2023, and Ane Maersk, a big 16,000 TEU green fuel-powered container vessel deployed in the Asia-Europe traffic in January 2024.
