24/7 Space News
OIL AND GAS
The world's first methanol-powered container ship moored at the Port of Gothenburg
Laura Maersk at the Port of Gothenburg. Photo: Gothenburg Port Authority.
The world's first methanol-powered container ship moored at the Port of Gothenburg
by Staff Writers
Gothenburg, Sweden (SPX) Oct 11, 2023

On Tuesday, a truly unique ship arrived at the Port of Gothenburg for the first time. The container ship Laura Maersk is powered by biomethanol, resulting in a big step towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

"This ship is a significant milestone for the maritime industry's green transition, but it is just the beginning. We will see another nearly 200 methanol-powered ships sailing the oceans fairly soon," says Therese Jallbrink, Head of Renewable Energy at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

Laura Maersk, christened in Copenhagen on September 14, marks the start of the global shipping giant Maersk's major initiative to use renewable methanol as ship fuel. While Laura Maersk may be the first, the company has an additional 25 methanol ships on order for delivery between 2024 and 2027.

"A.P. Moller - Maersk has a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and we are pleased to collaborate with the Port of Gothenburg. Our partners are assisting us in reaching our ambitious green objectives and ensuring our customers a door-to-door service that helps them reduce their carbon footprint in their value chains. No one can tackle this task alone, and we need strong partners for the green transformation of shipping to succeed in time," says Birna Odefors, Nordic Managing Director at A.P. Moller - Maersk.

Maersk is not alone in making significant investments in renewable methanol propulsion. Several other shipping companies have vessels on order, with a total of around 200 either in production or undergoing conversion for methanol propulsion, approximately 125 of which are container ships.

Therese Jallbrink, Head of Renewable Energy at the Port of Gothenburg AB, welcomes Maersk's and other shipping companies' major investments, noting that they also exert necessary pressure on other stakeholders in the value chain.

"The production of renewable methanol must increase, and the cost gap between fossil and renewable fuels must decrease. Responsibility lies with everyone, from producers to policymakers, international maritime organizations, ports, and transport buyers. Everyone needs to step up, and we need to continue driving development together," says Therese Jallbrink.

Starting in 2024, shipping will be included in the EU's emissions trading system, leading to a reduced cost gap. In the coming couple of years, regulations from both the EU and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will become stricter, with the IMO recently raising the goal from 50% to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for shipping in 2050, while stepping down emissions incrementally according to the IMO's roadmap on the way.

The Port of Gothenburg is working to create conditions and incentives for this transition. Securing a supply of renewable fuels is a crucial part, and the port aims to become Scandinavia's largest hub for renewable energy. Renewable methanol is seen as a key component of the fuel mix.

The Port of Gothenburg was the first port in the world to establish necessary operational regulations for large-scale methanol bunkering last year, and conducted a world-first methanol bunkering operation from ship to ship. Today, one of the port's bunker suppliers is ready to supply methanol, and another is set to have everything in place by the end of 2023. The port also collaborates closely with production stakeholders to ensure a supply of renewable methanol at the port.

After unloading and loading at the Gothenburg port's container terminal, operated by APM Terminals, Laura Maersk will sail on to Bremerhaven on Wednesday. She will return to the port of Gothenburg again next week.

Related Links
Port of Gothenburg
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
OIL AND GAS
First wind turbines reach Saudi green hydrogen plant: CEO
Riyadh (AFP) Oct 10, 2023
The first wind turbines have arrived at what Saudi officials bill as the world's biggest green hydrogen plant, in the futuristic NEOM megacity, the project's CEO told AFP on Tuesday. "This week, we have our first delivery of wind turbines. They actually arrived in the port of NEOM, and they'll be delivered up to site towards the end of this week," said David Edmondson, CEO of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company. Around 30 turbines are expected to be delivered by the end of the year along with the ... read more

OIL AND GAS
Space needs better 'parking spots' to stay usable

Ethics rules needed for human research on commercial spaceflights, panel says

Ethical guidelines needed before human research in commercial spaceflight is ready for liftoff

GITAI passes all NASA safety reviews for ISS external demonstration

OIL AND GAS
Rocket Lab opens engine development center in Long Beach

Vega-C Zefiro40 Test: Independent Enquiry

Spain's MIURA 1 launch campaign kicks off

Maritime Launch unveils commercial suborbital program at Spaceport Nova Scotia

OIL AND GAS
Light rocks on deck, gray rocks in the hole: Sols 3966-3697

NASA's Perseverance captures dust-filled Martian whirlwind

Double DRT for a Soliday: Sols 3964-3965:

Dust removal delayed: Sols 3962-3963

OIL AND GAS
Astronauts honored for contributions to China's space program

China capable of protecting astronauts from effects of space weightlessness

Tianzhou 5 spacecraft burns up on Earth reentry

Crew of Shenzhou XV mission honored for six-month space odyssey

OIL AND GAS
Amazon's Project Kuiper takes flight with first satellite launch

Amazon Gears Up for Inaugural Satellite Launch of Project Kuiper

Momentus announces $4M direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules

Study quantifies satellite brightness, challenges ground-based astronomy

OIL AND GAS
Physicists coax superconductivity and more from quasicrystals

$9.5 bn of key metals in overlooked electronic waste: UN

Spire Global selected by accelerate digitalization across the maritime industry

Making more magnetism possible with topology

OIL AND GAS
James Webb telescope captures planet-like structures in Orion Nebula

Study sheds new light on strange lava worlds

JWST's first spectrum of a TRAPPIST-1 planet

Alien Machines in the Solar System: The Possibilities and Potential Origins

OIL AND GAS
Large mound structures on Kuiper belt object Arrokoth may have common origin

Plot thickens in the hunt for a ninth planet

Webb finds carbon source on surface of Jupiter's moon Europa

Hidden ocean the source of CO2 on Jupiter moon

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.