A.P. Moller – Maersk has taken delivery of the world’s first complete series of large dual-fuel methanol-powered container vessels. The final vessel in the 12-ship series, the 16,200 TEU Axel Maersk, was named and delivered at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea on 27 May 2025.
The culmination of this fleet programme positions Maersk as a front-runner in the large-scale adoption of alternative fuels. The company began its transition to methanol in 2023 with the delivery of the smaller 2,100 TEU vessel Laura Maersk. This was followed in January 2024 by the delivery of its first large methanol-enabled container ship, Ane Maersk. Since then, Maersk has taken delivery of 18 dual-fuel vessels, including 12 large units now operating on its Asia-Europe East–West corridor.
In a statement, Maersk commented that: ‘With the delivery of Axel Maersk, we complete the world’s first series of large dual-fuel methanol container vessels. This iconic fleet is a signal of what’s possible when ambition meets action, All The Way To Zero.’
Axel Maersk, flying the Danish flag and classed by ABS, measures nearly 337 metres, has a beam of 53.5 metres and a deadweight of 189,508 tonnes. The ship’s godmother, Su Youn Ham, Mechanical Superintendent at Maersk, performed the traditional naming ceremony and referenced the company’s focus on engineering leadership and operational reliability.
The vessels were constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with engines supplied by MAN Energy Solutions, capable of running on both conventional fuels and methanol. While the current vessels are dual-fuelled, Maersk has committed to sourcing green methanol to the greatest extent possible. However, scaling up supply remains a significant hurdle.
To address this issue, Maersk and A.P. Moller Holding have taken a proactive approach to building green methanol supply capacity. In April 2025, they partnered with Japanese energy company ENEOS to invest $100 million in C2X, a green methanol developer established by A.P. Moller Holding and partially owned by Maersk.
This injection of capital will support the final development phase of the Beaver Lake Renewable Energy (BLRE) project in Louisiana, which is expected to produce over 500,000 tonnes of green methanol per year. The project, using SunGas Renewables’ gasification technology, will also capture and permanently sequester approximately 1 million tonnes of surplus biogenic CO2 each year, generating carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits.
C2X is also advancing additional methanol production projects in Spain, Egypt, and other global locations, with the ambition to exceed 3 million tonnes of annual green methanol capacity by 2030. ‘This milestone follows years of development, partnerships, and investment,’ noted Maersk. The company reiterated its long-term ambition of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, with methanol as a cornerstone of its transition away from fossil fuels.
