Methanol ship accelerates Net Zero targets

For Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe, the call meant the deployment of the first of its 150 electric trucks on order to service the ship, demonstrating how zero-emission journeys through the port are possible.

“This is a truly historic event. It is essential that the industry moves to decarbonise shipping and this first call by an alternatively fuelled vessel complements Hutchison Ports’ commitment to achieve Net Zero for our UK operations by 2035,” said Clemence Cheng, executive director, Hutchison Ports and CEO, Port of Felixstowe.

“All our electricity already comes from certified renewable sources and we are investing heavily in new electric trucks and yard cranes.”

Game-changing

Maersk said that the Laura Maersk is an important proof that the decarbonisation of supply chains is feasible – a game changer in a hard to abate industry.

“Combining low emission landside transport solutions with the soon to be delivered larger vessels running on green methanol will allow us to start offering green end to end solutions for our customers. This will be the first of many initiatives to get us to net zero,” said Gary Jeffreys, Maersk’s area managing director, UK & Ireland.

The Rt Hon Dr Therese Coffey MP, UK Secretary of State for the Environment, was there to witness the port call.

“The UK Government has been a leader in introducing mandatory targets to achieve Net Zero by 2050,” she said.

”Shipping is one of the more challenging sectors to decarbonise and I am pleased to see Maersk Line taking a lead in the adoption of green fuels.”

The 2,100 teu vessel will operate on Maersk’s Baltic shipping route between Northern Europe and the Bay of Bothnia.