The Port of Gothenburg has announced that Maersk’s first green-powered containership will dock at the port on a weekly basis.

Laura Maersk is the first ship in Maersk’s big endeavour to use renewable methanol as a fuel source. The maritime corporation has more than 20 methanol-powered ships on order for delivery between 2024 and 2027.

Birna Ödefors, Area Managing Director Nordics, said: “Already today, many of the customers importing and exporting via Gothenburg have chosen lower-emission ocean transport enabled by green fuels* and thereby reduced the greenhouse gas footprint in their supply chain.

“With the arrival of Laura Maersk on a weekly basis, we are now connecting Gothenburg to a green corridor in Northern Europe and giving Swedish-based customers direct access to the World’s first methanol-enabled container vessel.”

Jacob Minnhagen, Senior Market Development Manager at the Gothenburg Port Authority, stated: “Laura Maersk is a truly sustainable shipping milestone and it is exciting to see her in service here at the Port of Gothenburg. Fundamentally, it’s the increasingly ambitious transition goals of shipping companies that drive the development, with Maersk being one of the leading players in the field today.

“This benefits shipping companies that have been early adopters and are already engaged in the transition of their fleets today. They are also well-positioned for the international regulations that are becoming increasingly stringent in their requirements for those who want to be part of tomorrow’s sustainable transport system.”

In addition to Bremerhaven and the Port of Gothenburg, the new route stops in Helsingborg, Halmstad, and Kalundborg.

Recently, the Port of Gothenburg announced a record-breaking container volume for the first quarter of 2024, having handled a total of 242,000 TEU.