Maersk orders carbon-neutral ships in bid for net-zero emissions

Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk has ordered eight new ships that can run on methanol, a carbon-neutral fuel source.

The move is an attempt to speed up the decarbonization of the Maersk fleet in an attempt to meet consumer demands for greener transportation.

Maersk’s goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and the company has vowed to order only vessels that can use carbon-neutral fuel. Vessels typically have a lifetime of 20-35 years, which means that the company must have a carbon-neutral fleet by 2030.

The new vessels, which will each have the capacity to carry 16,000 containers, are expected to be delivered by early 2024. They are being manufactured by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries at a cost of $175 million each – 10-15% more expensive than a typical vessel.

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