Maersk buys ‘green’ cargo ships

THE world’s biggest shipping company giant has taken a major step towards environmentally friendly sea freight by ordering eight ships that can run on either methanol or traditional fuels.

Maersk has ordered eight vessels each capable of carrying 16,000 standard 20ft shipping containers (known as TEU) from Hyundai Heavy

Industries, with deliveries starting in 2024. It has an option for four more ships.

It is the first major order from a shipping line for large ships that can operate with a zero-carbon footprint.

Shipping is responsible for 3pc of CO2 emissions and the International Maritime Organisation has a 2030 target of cutting emissions to 60pc of their 2008 levels, and halving all emissions by 2050.

Maersk’s new ships, which cost about $175m (£128m) each, will run on green methanol made by combining sustainably produced hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from renewable sources.

Running on this fuel would cut carbon emissions by about 1m tonnes a year. Maersk said the new ships would not add additional capacity but will replace older ships due to be scrapped.