Maersk converts first large box ship to dual-fuel methanol

The container ship Maersk Halifax has been converted into a dual-fuel vessel able to operate on methanol. The retrofit operation was conducted at the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China over 88 days, and completed at the end of October 2024.

Maersk head fleet management and technology Leonardo Sonzio said, “We are happy to announce Maersk Halifax has been retrofitted into a dual-fuel methanol vessel. Following the completion of the sea-trials, Maersk Halifax has returned to operation and is now servicing our customers on the Transpacific trade.”

The engine conversion has been done by MAN Energy Solutions. Besides replacing machine parts and thereby making the engine able to operate on methanol, the retrofit operation at the yard involved adding new fuel tanks, the fuel preparation room and fuel supply system. The hull has also been expanded to accommodate the fuel tanks.

Maersk said with this change, the length of the ship was extended by 15 m to 368 m, increasing the capacity from around 15,000 to 15,690 TEU.

Mr Sonzio added, “Since we set the ambitious climate goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040, we have explored the potential in retrofitting existing vessels with dual-fuel engines. In the coming year, we will take learnings from this first conversion of a large vessel. Retrofits of existing vessels can be an important alternative to newbuilds in our transition from fossil fuels to low-emissions fuels.”

This comes on the back of the naming of Maersk’s sixth dual-fuel methanol container newbuild vessel Alexandra Maersk, where its chief executive Vincent Clerc asked IMO to "close the fuels price gap".

"To accelerate the transformation, we need International Maritime Organization[’s] help closing the price gap between green and fossil fuels to make the green choice the best choice for all," he said.