World’s first green methanol carrier sets sail

The Laura Maersk now runs a new feeder service between the Port of Gothenburg and Bremerhaven in Germany.

“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,” said Birna Ödefors, area managing director Nordics at AP Moller Maersk.

The Laura Maersk is the first vessel in Maersk’s major initiative to use renewable methanol as a ship fuel. The shipping company has more than 20 methanol-powered ships on order for delivery between 2024 and 2027.

“Laura Maersk is a true sustainable shipping milestone and it is exciting to see her in service here at the Port of Gothenburg,” said Jacob Minnhagen, senior market development manager at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

“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.”

He points out that freight buyers are increasingly prioritising environmental performance. “This benefits shipping companies that have been early adopters and are already engaged in the transition of their fleets today,” he said.

“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 service calls at the ports in Helsingborg, Halmstad and Kalundborg.