The world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel will carry the name “Laura Mærsk”, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed at a naming ceremony in the Port of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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In her address, President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized how the European Green Deal and underlying legislative packages are setting the direction and the predictability needed for pioneering companies like Maersk to make the bold investments needed.
Today, a large cargo vessel sailing entirely on green methanol is not only possible. It’s a reality. What you have achieved needed vision, leadership, and joining forces. This ship embodies Europe’s decision to pioneer the fight against climate change. With the EU Green Deal, we have created predictability for industry and investors. We are decarbonizing shipping. And we are fostering innovation to secure clean fuels at scale said President von der Leyen.
“Laura” represents a heritage of innovation
“Laura” is a proud Maersk name deeply rooted in some of the company’s very early innovative landmarks. When Captain Peter Maersk Moller bought his first steamship in 1886, he named her “Laura”.
With its steam engine, “Laura” was a product of the Second Industrial Revolution, making its impact on the shipping industry significant.
Furthermore, “Laura” was the first vessel to wear the white seven-pointed star on a light blue background. This symbol later would become the logo of A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk).
Laura Mærsk is a historic milestone for shipping across the globe. It shows the entrepreneurial spirit that has characterized Maersk since the founding of the company. However, more importantly, this vessel is a very real proof point that when we as an industry unite through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges. This new green vessel is the breakthrough we needed, but we still have a long way to go before we make it all the way to zero, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk during the ceremony.
The first of many for Maersk
Maersk has an ambitious 2040 target of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and aims to transport a minimum of 25 percent of Ocean cargo using green fuels by 2030.
The 2,100 TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent) feeder vessel is an important step toward the long-term objective of gradually renewing the entire Maersk fleet to operate solely on green fuels.
Maersk has 24 additional methanol vessels on order for delivery between 2024 and 2027 and a policy to only order new, owned vessels that come with a green fuel option.
