“Ane Maersk” completes its first methanol bunkering op in European waters
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by Admin
The world’s first large methanol-powered deep-sea vessel Ane Maersk completed its first bunkering operation in European waters when it called the Port of Antwerp-Bruges at the MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) on 1 April, according to the port on Wednesday (3 April).
The vessel took on 4,300 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol and 1,375 mt of biodiesel (B100) during the port stay.
The call at the Antwerp port is part of Ane Maersk’s maiden voyage from South Korea to China, fuelled by green methanol.
“The successful and efficient bunkering is a new milestone in Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ ambition to become a multi-fuel port,” it said on its website.
The container vessel built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea has a nominal capacity of 16,000 containers (TEU) and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine enabling operations on methanol as well as biodiesel and conventional bunker fuel.
Ane Maersk is the first of Maersk’s 18 large methanol-enabled vessels that will be delivered between 2024 and 2025 and world’s second methanol-enabled container vessel.
TankMatch dispatched two barges to transfer 4,300 mt of green methanol onto the Ane Maersk. Subsequently, a barge from VT Group delivered 1,375 mt of biodiesel (B100) .
The bunkering process was integrated into the vessel’s port stay, combining bunkering simultaneously with on- and off-loading of cargo. The simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) increased the efficiency of the port stay by lowering additional time allocation for refuelling.
For Port of Antwerp-Bruges, this is also a milestone in its ambition to become a multifuel port, where a multitude of different climate neutral fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methane and methanol are available for bunkering, in addition to the range of bio- and conventional bunker fuels already available.
In June 2023, the very first methanol bunkering operation took place at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, when 475 mt of methanol were bunkered onto the tanker Stena Pro Marine.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges said it already has the capacity to store climate neutral fuels for use within its industrial cluster and distribution to the hinterland.
“In the process of enabling the bunkering of climate neutral fuels at both its platforms, Port of Antwerp-Bruges has conducted risk assessments for all types of fuel, is setting up safety protocols and will ensure the highest qualifications within its bunkering ecosystem by implementing a licensing system for bunker operators,” it added.
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “As the fifth largest bunkering port in the world, we are committed to playing a pioneering role in the integration of climate neutral fuels to the bunker market.”
“Port of Antwerp-Bruges will provide facilities where possible, make both platforms multifuel ready and is itself committed to making its fleet greener by using alternative fuels.”
Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets of A.P. Moller – Maersk, said: “We are excited to partner with Port of Antwerp-Bruges on the maiden voyage of Ane Maersk.”
“This is an important step in our efforts to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.”
“We value all our partners which contributes to the decarbonisation of shipping and logistics, and we are pleased to see both the green fuel and bunkering infrastructure making promising development.”
Related: Port of Antwerp-Bruges enters milestone with first methanol bunkering operation
Related: World’s first large methanol-powered boxship named “Ane Maersk” in South Korea
Related: Maersk to deploy first large methanol-powered vessel on Asia-Europe trade lane in 2024
Photo credit: Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Published: 4 April 2024
