Netherlands-based OCI Global has announced it is fueling the first-ever green methanol-powered container ship in a new partnership with AP Moller-Maersk. OCI will supply ISCC-certified biomethanol for the maiden voyage of Maersk's first dual-fuel container ship, in a groundbreaking step towards decarbonizing global shipping.
The trip demonstrates OCI's unique ability to provide shipping customers with end-to-end green methanol solutions in key bunkering locations worldwide, and further supports green methanol as today's leading choice for decarbonizing the shipping sector, which is responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The ship will depart South Korea this summer on its maiden voyage, sailing on one of the world's busiest shipping routes to Northern Europe via the Suez Canal. OCI is in the process of obtaining the approvals and permits necessary for commercial methanol bunkering at several ports, including the Port of Rotterdam during the ship's voyage, making OCI the first commercial methanol bunkering operator in these regions.
Ready for shipping
This trip is an important milestone in OCI's expansion of its renewable and low-carbon fuels business, a key pillar of OCI's sustainable growth strategy. As the maritime industry moves toward more regulations to accelerate decarbonization, such as the FuelEU Maritime initiative, OCI expects an increasing global demand for methanol of 4 million tons per year over the next five years, based on current orders from the maritime sector.
OCI focuses on being the operator of choice in strategic bunkering ports, through partnerships with relevant authorities, terminal infrastructure partners and bunker boat operators. In February, OCI announced its project with Unibarge for the retrofit of the first methanol-powered bunker vessel, which will be deployed in the port of Rotterdam.
Leader in the field of hydrogen fuels
With its OCI HyFuels brand, OCI is the largest producer of green methanol in the world. The company has led the development of the application of green methanol in vehicle fuels, producing 200.000 tonnes equivalent per year, and is expanding its range of low-carbon and green methanol products, including biomethanol, e-methanol, RCF- methanol (recycled carbon fuel), renewable natural gas, ethanol and bio-MTBE.
Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of OCI Global: “I am delighted to partner with Maersk to power the very first green methanol journey with OCI HyFuels green methanol. This is another significant milestone in our global leadership in supplying and trading renewable and low-carbon fuels to decarbonize energy-intensive industries. We also appreciate the collaboration and leadership of our partners in each of the ports to make this journey possible. OCI plays a crucial role in helping the sector achieve its environmental objectives through our existing methanol capabilities; this helps us build our position in the maritime and fuel markets to capitalize on the upcoming demand for ammonia fuels.”
Bashir Lebada, CEO of OCI Methanol/HyFuels: “We are excited about this new phase in our methanol business. Shipping has been the focus of attention for methanol for a number of years, so the first truly green sale and voyage is a testament to our team’s hard work and reinforces OCI HyFuels as the only large-scale green methanol solution for road transport and bunkering. We are pleased with our partnership with Maersk and their leadership in decarbonizing the maritime sector; their early focus on methanol and conviction to order ships has brought us to where we are today. This also highlights our distribution system and our ‘last mile’ capabilities, where we will continue to deploy our road fuel logistics and fuel blending system and expand our green bunkering fleet as demand grows.”
Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets at AP Moller – Maersk: “We would like to thank OCI Global for demonstrating great leadership and for excellent cooperation during the refueling of the maiden voyage for our landmark ship. We are grateful for the way OCI Global has committed itself to helping AP Moller – Maersk deliver valuable services to our customers. Together, as trusted partners, we are ensuring the much-needed transition in an industry that causes a great deal of pollution. Thanks to the work of companies like OCI Global, that transition can hopefully be accelerated in the coming years.” Energy Markets at AP Moller – Maersk: “We would like to thank OCI Global for demonstrating great leadership and for excellent cooperation during the refueling of the maiden voyage for our landmark ship. We are grateful for the way OCI Global has committed itself to helping AP Moller – Maersk deliver valuable services to our customers. Together, as trusted partners, we are ensuring the much-needed transition in an industry that causes a great deal of pollution. Thanks to the work of companies like OCI Global, that transition can hopefully be accelerated in the coming years.”
Source and photo: OCI-Global.com
