Hapag-Lloyd plans to retrofit five ships to methanol

Hapag-Lloyd, in collaboration with Seaspan Corporation and MAN Energy Solutions, has announced its plans to convert five 10,100 TEU container vessels to methanol.

This follows a successful test of a MAN S90 engine retrofitted for methanol by MAN Energy Solutions and Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine in Japan.

The engine’s switch from traditional fuel to methanol paves the way for greener, more sustainable shipping, with over 50 vessels in Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet now primed for this innovation.

Methanol is a sustainable alternative fuel that significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional fuels.

The five retrofitted vessels have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 30,000 to 50,000 metric tonnes annually, equivalent to taking thousands of cars off the road.

Dr Maximilian Rothkopf, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “Our methanol retrofit project is another step on our journey to decarbonize our entire fleet by 2045.

“By making these ships methanol-ready by 2026, we’re not only shrinking our carbon footprint – we’re also meeting the growing demand for greener transport solutions from our customers.”

Recently, a Hapag-Lloyd delegate met with the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) Chairman to explore business collaborations. The meeting focused on exploring future growth opportunities and enhancing operational efficiencies within Sri Lanka’s maritime sector.