A.P. Moller – Maersk’s second large vessel capable of running on green methanol, the Astrid Maersk, has made its inaugural stop in Koper, Slovenia, where it was warmly received at the Port of Koper.
Operating on the AE12 string linking Asia and Europe, the Astrid Maersk arrived at the Slovene port on June 16, 2024, after departing from Port Said in Egypt. Its journey will continue to Trieste (Italy), Tangier (Morocco), and Singapore.
Fitted with a dual-fuel engine enabling it to operate on green methanol, the Astrid Maersk is the second of eighteen large vessels ordered by Maersk that will join the fleet between 2024 and 2025.
Named during an April ceremony, this container vessel was constructed by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and boasts a nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU).
Following the earlier launch of its sister unit, the Ane Maersk, the Astrid Maersk underscores Maersk’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Maersk highlights that vessels in this new series feature an innovative design placing the bridge and accommodation at the vessel’s forefront. This design allows for increased cargo capacity and reduces consumption per container.
Maersk anticipates that by the end of this decade, 25 of their vessels will be powered by green methanol, resulting in annual savings of 2.75 million tons of CO2 emissions.
“The launch of this vessel class marks a significant milestone for Maersk in our journey toward decarbonizing ocean transportation. The Astrid Maersk, along with her sister vessels, embodies our commitments to sustainability and innovation. However, this decarbonization journey requires collaboration from the entire ecosystem, including customers, partners, regulators, and all other stakeholders, with the Port of Koper being one of our key partners,” said Ivić Vodopija, Maersk’s Country Manager for East Adriatic and Central Europe.
The Port of Koper is a multipurpose port capable of handling all types of cargo. In 2023, the port’s total throughput reached 22.3 million tons, including 1.066 million TEUs and 916,728 units of vehicles, making Koper the largest container terminal in the Adriatic and one of the most significant car terminals in Europe.
