A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and Equinor have inked an agreement to provide green methanol supply for Maersk’s new methanol-enabled feeder vessel during its initial months of operation.

The agreement assures that the ship will be able to operate in a loop from Northern Europe into the Baltic Sea following the name-giving ceremony later this month in Copenhagen. In Rotterdam, the green methanol will be stored.

Alex Grant, Senior Vice President for the liquid commodity segment at Equinor, said: “Equinor is pleased to be partnering up with Maersk in delivering greener fuels to the marine industry.

“Equinor is an established player in the European methanol market through its production plant at Tjeldbergodden and we have ambitions to be a key provider of green methanol in the marine fuel segment.”

Rabab Bouloshief Infrastructure Officer at A.P. Moller – Maersk, stated: “We are very pleased to partner with Equinor, as it’s entering this business area.

“It is critical to get energy majors to the table and start supplying future fuels at scale. This is the form of engagement we need to continue accelerating the pioneering journey towards a green fuel economy for global shipping.

“With more than 100 methanol enabled vessels on order across the industry, the demand for green fuel production is rising and will continue to do so in the years to come.”

The operation for the feeder will begin this month and continue into the first half of 2024.

This month, Maersk strengthened its presence in South America and the Caribbean with the inauguration of a 14,000 square-metre fulfilment centre in Colombia and a 3,500 square-metre fulfilment centre in Panama.

Additionally, Maersk and Amazon agreed to ship 20,000 FFE (Forty Foot Equipment) containers using green biofuel via Maersk’s ‘ECO Delivery’ maritime product offering from 2023 to 2024.