MAERSK welcomed its first large methanol-enabled container vessel Ane Mærsk with a ceremony at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea.

Ane Mærsk is the first of Maersk’s 18 large methanol-enabled vessels slated for delivery between 2024 and 2025. According to Maersk, it is the world’s second methanol-enabled container vessel.

The ship will enter service in early February on the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe.

The vessel is named after Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, chair of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding. Ane’s eldest granddaughter served as godmother and christened the vessel by breaking a champagne bottle over the bow.

“This series of vessels will have a transformative impact on our ambition to progress on our industry-leading climate ambitions,” A.P. Moller-Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said.

“It is a visual and operational proof of our commitment to a more sustainable industry.

“With Ane Mærsk and her sister vessels we are expanding our offer to the growing number of businesses aiming to reduce emissions from their supply chains.”

Ane Mærsk will begin its maiden voyage on green methanol. Maersk said it continues to work on 2024-2025 sourcing and bunkering solutions for its methanol-enabled vessel fleet.