Maersk has introduced its latest and largest methanol-powered vessel, Antonia Maersk, on its weekly transoceanic route between Sweden’s Port of Gothenburg and Asia.
This addition brings the total number of methanol-powered container ships regularly visiting the Port of Gothenburg to two.
“With Antonia Maersk, we are taking another important, concrete step in the green transition of shipping and enhancing our Sweden-based customers’ ability to further reduce their transport emissions. Before 2027, we will launch an additional 20 methanol-powered ships, so this is a journey that has just begun,” commented Birna Ödefors, Area Managing Director of Nordics at A.P. Moller Maersk.
Antonia Maersk, which boasts a cargo capacity of 16,592 TEUs, was launched in Aarhus, Denmark in August. It now operates on the AE5/Albatross route, part of the 2M alliance, connecting the Port of Gothenburg with Asia.
Powered by bio-methanol, Antonia Maersk is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 280 tons per day during its operations, equivalent to the emissions from a truck with a trailer circumnavigating the globe more than six times.
Earlier this year, the smaller methanol-powered Laura Maersk began its service on an intra-European route between Gothenburg and Bremerhaven, Germany. Both Antonia Maersk and Laura Maersk utilize bio-methanol as their fuel.
“This ship represents another piece of the puzzle for the transition towards sustainable shipping. It is, of course, particularly exciting that this ship regularly calls at the Port of Gothenburg on one of our most important trade routes, benefiting Swedish industry. And in addition to reducing our customers transport emissions—it also reduces emissions in our port and provides cleaner air in the city of Gothenburg,” mentioned Jacob Minnhagen, Senior Market Development Manager at the Port of Gothenburg.
Antonia Maersk, launched in February 2024, is Maersk’s newest and largest methanol-powered vessel, with an impressive cargo capacity of 16,592 TEUs. Measuring 350.59 meters in length and 53.5 meters in width, with a draught of 18 meters, this massive ship is designed for efficiency on long-haul routes. It regularly calls at major ports, including Singapore, Ningbo, and Shanghai, as part of a weekly service in both directions, connecting key markets across Asia and beyond.
