Ulsan Bunkers: The World's First Large Methanol-Powered Containership at a Historic Moment

Posted on Feb 12, 2024 at 09:02 PM

At Ulsan Port in South Korea, the innovative Ane Maersk—known as the world's first significant methanol dual-fuel containership—has accomplished a noteworthy milestone by effectively finishing its inaugural ship-to-ship (STS) green methanol bunkering operation from Ulsan to Copenhagen, stopping at Singapore, Egypt, and Rotterdam.

On this historic occasion, green methanol was bunkered into Maersk's 16,000 TEU Ane Maersk, the company's first major methanol-powered containership. The South Korean maritime company Hana Marine's bunker ship, Golden Sunny Hana, made the bunkering procedure easier.

The Ulsan Port Authority and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries formally declared the successful conclusion of this bunkering operation.

This accomplishment represents a calculated risk in light of South Korea's efforts to promote sustainable marine fuelling development in its ports. To facilitate this endeavour, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has established the necessary institutional frameworks, such as the “Guidelines for Approval of Self-Safety Management Plan for Methanol Supply.”

The creation of these recommendations expands upon the understanding obtained from two methanol supply demonstrations carried out in July and November of the preceding year in cooperation with the Ulsan Port Authority.

Kang Do-Hyung, Korea's Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, emphasised the global shipping industry's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and committed to boosting Korea's competitiveness in sustainable fuels.

Ulsan Port Authority President Kim Jae-Hyun plans to transition to a sustainable marine fuel supply centre, building on the success of the first green methanol bunkering, which signifies that the worldwide rivalry between ports seeking to secure a foothold in the market for sustainable marine fuel is intensifying.

Ane Maersk is a noteworthy accomplishment, having been named two weeks before at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) in Ulsan. With eighteen big methanol-enabled vessels planned for delivery between 2024 and 2025, Maersk's ambitious plan to deploy them all began with this vessel.

AP Moller-Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc believes methanol-powered ships will significantly contribute to the company's climate targets, aiming for very low greenhouse gas emissions. He reiterated that future ships will be able to donate to a more sustainable marine ecology because of Ane Maersk's leadership in the shipping industry's adoption of greener, cleaner techniques. In February, Ane Maersk will begin operations on Maersk's AE7 service between Asia and Europe.

Hana Marine, a South Korean shipping company, has been a leading player in the East Asian small vessel chemical shipping trade since 1987. It specialises in petrochemical products and boasts a fleet of 25 high-specification tankers.

An important turning point in the maritime industry's quest for sustainability has been reached with the completion of Ane Maersk's ship-to-ship green methanol bunkering at Ulsan Port. The cooperative efforts by Maersk, Ulsan Port, and pertinent authorities demonstrate a shared dedication to promoting ecologically sustainable shipping methods.

The flourishing green methanol bunkering operation for the Ane Maersk at Ulsan Port marks a significant advancement in maritime sustainability. It showcases South Korea's commitment to eco-friendly maritime technologies. It sets a new global standard for reducing the shipping industry's carbon footprint, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in achieving global sustainability goals.

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