A Maersk representative has confirmed to Container News that the Danish shipping company has declared its options with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for four additional large container vessels able to operate on carbon neutral methanol.
The vessels will be delivered in 2025, following the delivery of eight similar vessels ordered on 24 August 2021.
The deal for the four 16,000 TEU dual-fuelled container ships is approximately US$700 million, according to Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), the shipbuilding holding company of HHI.
"The four vessels will replace a similar amount of existing Maersk fleet capacity which is reaching end-of-life," Maersk's spokeswoman told Container News and went on to add, "Once fully phased in the 12 vessels will generate total annual CO2 emissions savings of 1.5 million tonnes or 4.5% of total Maersk fleet emissions and offer Maersk customers truly carbon neutral transportation at scale on the high seas."
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the four methanol-fuelled vessels is included in the current Maersk guidance for 2021-22, which shows that for 2021-2022, the expectation for the accumulated CAPEX is around US$7 billion.
"The current guidance is still subject to uncertainty due to a higher than normal volatility given the temporary nature of both the demand patterns and disruptions in the supply chains," says Maersk.
Early in December, the Copenhagen-based box carrier unveiled the design of its new methanol-powered vessels, which will be able to complete an entire round-trip, Asia-Europe for instance, on green methanol, according to Maersk's statement.
