X-Press Feeders has launched Europe’s first scheduled feeder network, with the vessels powered by green methanol, a sustainable marine fuel that cuts GHG emissions by up to 65 per cent.
The industry milestone coincided with the naming and christening ceremony in Rotterdam for X-Press Feeders’ first dual-fuel methanol-powered ship.
The newly named vessel, Eco-Maestro, is the first of 14 dual-fuel vessels that X-Press Feeders has on order.
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X-Press Feeders intends to deploy these vessels primarily on European routes, resulting in Europe’s first green methanol-powered feeder network.
The plan coincides with the EU’s adoption of an emissions trading scheme (ETS) for marine shipping this year, which will encourage shippers to choose more environmentally friendly shipping lanes.
Fuel EU Maritime rules, which go into effect in January 2025, will also require a decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity from energy used on ships.
X-Press Feeders first methanol-powered feeder network offers services:
- Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Helsinki > Tallinn > HaminaKotka > Rotterdam
- Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX): Rotterdam > Antwerp Bruges > Klaipeda > Riga > Rotterdam
READ: Evergreen plans green feeder network with X-Press Feeders
Green bio-methanol is a renewable fuel derived from organic waste and leftovers, making it a more sustainable option.
The X-Press Feeders employ ISCC-certified green methanol from Europe. The company chose Rotterdam as the location for Europe’s first green methanol feeder network since it is Europe’s largest port and well suited to green methanol refuelling.
X-Press Feeders Chief Operating Officer, Francis Goh, said: “X-Press Feeders chose northern Europe for the first routes in the network because we found that customers in this part of Europe were most receptive to our plans for sustainable shipping.
“We plan to steadily expand the green network across Europe as we take delivery of our dual-fuel vessels. Eco Maestro is the first to join the network while the second dual-fuel vessel will join by Q3 2024.”
