Maersk joins Japanese green methanol bunkering network

The City of Yokohama, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) and Maersk have

bunkering infrastructure at the Port of Yokohama, Japan.

This is the location of APM Terminal’s (APMT) Minami-Honmoku container

terminal. This latest agreement aims to support Maersk’s growing fleet of 16,000

TEU green methanol-powered container vessels.

Under the terms of the partnership, the carrier will equip 25 container

vessels with dual-fuel engines capable of sailing on green methanol.

The successful implementation of this initiative heavily relies on the

establishment of port bunkering infrastructure for methanol worldwide.

The collaboration will reportedly focus on examining operational

feasibility and developing port facilities required for green methanol bunkering

at the Port of Yokohama.

“Yokohama Port has proudly held the record for the highest number of

foreign vessels calls in Japan for around 60 years, underscoring its critical

role in maritime transportation where ‘fuel supply and bunkering for vessels’

holds significant importance,” said Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama.

“Moving forward, the three parties involved will collaborate to promote the

use of green methanol in accordance with the memorandum.

“Yokohama aims to spearhead the development of Japan’s green shipping

corridors while also aiming to explore and invite more like-minded future

partners to join the initiative,” Yamanaka added.

Masashi Fujii, President of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, added: “We believe

that the establishment of methanol as a ship fuel supply base in Japan is an

important initiative that will contribute to international maritime transport

and carbon neutrality of Japan.”

The Minami-Honmoku container terminal offers the deepest water berth in

Japan with a total length of 1,600 metres and a draft of 18 metres, reported

APMT.

This is the only terminal in Japan capable of handling vessels of over

14,000 TEU with capabilities up to 24,000 TEU.

Equipped with Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes with a maximum outreach of 24

rows, the terminal covers a total area of 854,000 square metres and has an

annual handling capacity of approximately 2.4 million TEU.

The terminal has the option of increasing handling capacity through

expansion onto neighbouring land.

“I am sure that decarbonisation will naturally become a core part of the

future competitiveness, and I am thrilled to play a role in assisting both

Maersk and City of Yokohama on this green methanol bunkering initiative, which

is lightening our path toward net zero in 2040,” commented APMT Japan’s Managing

Director, Sakura Kuma.

In late 2023, APMT Callao began construction on Stage 3A of the

Multipurpose North Terminal Modernization Project at the Port of Callao.

More recently, Maersk confirmed the timely completion of the Phase 2 of the

1 million TEU expansion at APMT MedPort Tangier, Morocco.