X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, has launched Europe’s first scheduled feeder network powered by green methanol.
This sustainable marine fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65%.
“Today marks a significant milestone in sustainable shipping in Europe because companies here now have a regularly scheduled network that can ship goods in a way that has less impact on the environment, helping companies to better achieve their sustainability goals,” stated Francis Goh, Chief Operating Officer of X-Press Feeders.
This milestone was celebrated with the naming and christening ceremony of X-Press Feeders’ first dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel, Eco-Maestro, in Rotterdam.
Eco-Maestro is the first of 14 dual-fuel vessels that X-Press Feeders has ordered. These vessels are primarily intended for European routes, establishing the continent’s first feeder network powered by green methanol.
Moreover, this initiative aligns with the European Union’s newly implemented emissions trading scheme (ETS) for maritime shipping, encouraging shippers to adopt more sustainable practices.
Additionally, Fuel EU Maritime regulations, starting in January 2025, will mandate reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity for energy used on board ships.
The port rotations of X-Press Feeders first methanol-powered feeder services will be as follows:
- Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX): Rotterdam (Netherlands) > Antwerp Bruges (Belgium) > Helsinki (Finland) > Tallinn (Estonia) > HaminaKotka (Finland) > Rotterdam (Netherlands)
- Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX): Rotterdam (Netherlands) > Antwerp Bruges (Belgium) > Klaipeda (Lithuania) > Riga (Latvia) > Rotterdam (Netherlands)
X-Press Feeders selected the Port of Rotterdam as the base for Europe’s first feeder network powered by green methanol due to its status as Europe’s largest port and its comprehensive facilities for green methanol refuelling.
Today’s achievement is the result of extensive collaboration between X-Press Feeders and several key partners, including the ports of Antwerp Bruges, HaminaKotka, Helsinki, Klaipeda, Riga and Tallinn. These partnerships are essential for supporting the methanol-powered feeder network and ensuring seamless, sustainable logistics across the region.
Eco Maestro is the first ship to join the network while the second dual-fuel vessel will join
by the third quarter of 2024.
