Maersk Signs MoU with Yokohama City for Establishing Methanol Bunkering Infrastructure

On December 27th, Maersk announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the authorities of Yokohama, Japan, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to establish a green methanol bunkering infrastructure in Yokohama, according to FleetMon.
It stated: “As part of its commitment to methanol-powered shipping, Maersk is in the process of establishing global methanol bunkering hubs. The company revealed that its 16,000-TEU class UCLVs (Ultra-Large Container Vessels) are set to be delivered starting next year, and Maersk is actively securing a refueling location in Japan for these vessels. Maersk has announced plans to transition to zero-carbon fuels by 2040 and is beginning with 25 new buildings that can run on green methanol.
“The city of Yokohama has the PORT OF YOKOHAMA which includes the Minami-Honmoku container terminal that is operated by APM Terminals Japan. The terminal has Japan’s deepest water berth, which has a total length of 1,600m and a draft of 18m.
“Equipped with STS Cranes capable of reaching up to 24 rows, it is currently the sole terminal in Japan capable of accommodating ships exceeding 14,000 TEU. Consequently, it positions itself to efficiently service Maersk’s forthcoming methanol-powered 16,000 TEU vessels.”