OCI Global, a Dutch producer and distributor of hydrogen-based products, recently accomplished a historic feat by completing the world’s first green methanol bunkering operation at the Port of Ulsan, Korea.
The momentous bunkering operation took place on Sunday, July 16, during which OCI fueled A.P. Moller Maersk’s pioneering green methanol-powered container ship with 1,000 metric tonnes of OCI HyFuels ISCC-certified green methanol at Odfjell Terminal Korea (OTK).
This achievement is regarded as a groundbreaking moment in the shipping industry’s journey towards decarbonization. Maersk had received the 2,100 TEU boxship from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard just last week. The official naming and delivery ceremony of the vessel, set for September in Copenhagen, will see Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, as the vessel’s godmother. The ship’s anticipated name is Maersk Solstice.
OCI emphasized that this bunkering operation serves as a catalyst for future green methanol initiatives, establishing the company as the first commercial bunker operator of green methanol on a global scale.
Ahmed El-Hoshy, OCI’s CEO, expressed his delight over the successful departure of the world’s first green methanol-fueled container ship from Ulsan. He believes this journey marks the beginning of a more sustainable era in shipping and demonstrates the reliability, safety, and efficiency of green methanol as the primary low-carbon shipping fuel.
The successful bunkering operation was made possible through collaboration with various partners, including the Ulsan Port Authority, Maersk, and transportation and storage partner, Odfjell, with support from the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
OTK’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joseph Kim, congratulated Maersk on this significant milestone and expressed pride in being the first terminal to successfully supply green methanol bunkering to the vessel. He also noted that safe and successful methanol bunker supply models have been established over the past months, providing a strong foundation for the future of the methanol bunkering business.
This milestone follows OCI’s announcement last month of their partnership with Maersk to fuel the feeder vessel, ensuring the ship’s maiden voyage will be net-zero.
For the maiden voyage of Maersk’s feeder vessel, bio-methanol will be used, produced from biogas obtained from landfills in the United States. This bio-methanol meets the company’s sustainability criteria and achieves a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout its lifecycle.
The vessel will now navigate some of the world’s busiest shipping routes, with planned bunkering stops in Singapore, Egypt, and Rotterdam en route to Copenhagen, Denmark. This 21,500 km journey will provide real operational experience for Maersk seafarers, as they handle the new engines and use methanol as fuel, in preparation for a fleet of new, large ocean-going methanol-enabled ships set to arrive from 2024.
Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller – Maersk, expressed pride in achieving this significant milestone, as the green methanol market is still in its infancy, and securing a maiden voyage on green methanol for the vessel was unexpected.
As Maersk collaborates with Ulsan Port on this landmark journey, it signifies an important step towards their goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The operational experience gained from this journey will be invaluable for the company’s future, as it prepares to receive a fleet of larger methanol-enabled vessels between 2024 and 2027, ranging from 9,000 to 17,200 TEU capacity.
