A.P. Moller – Maersk, a global leader in integrated logistics, has celebrated the christening of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel, the “Alexandra Mærsk,” at a ceremony in the Port of Felixstowe, UK. The event, attended by UK Maritime Minister Mike Kane, representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Maersk employees, and key customers, marks a significant step in the company’s drive to decarbonize ocean shipping.
Elaine Condon, Director of People & Culture at Primark, served as the ship’s godmother, symbolizing the close relationship between Maersk and the fashion retailer. Primark has been a prominent partner in Maersk’s sustainability journey, and the naming of the vessel reinforces their shared commitment to reducing environmental impact in global supply chains.
A Milestone in Green Shipping
The “Alexandra Maersk” is the sixth vessel in Maersk’s fleet to feature dual-fuel capabilities, able to sail on methanol in both its main and auxiliary engines. This ship is the fifth in a series of 18 large methanol-powered vessels set to be delivered between 2024 and 2025, each with a capacity exceeding 16,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The dual-fuel technology enables the vessel to use methanol as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
UK Maritime Minister Mike Kane highlighted the importance of such innovations: “It’s a privilege to join the naming ceremony for the ‘Alexandra Maersk’ – one of the first container vessels to run on green methanol. This is exactly the kind of innovation we need to deliver a greener, cleaner maritime sector which is better for people and for our planet.”
Sustainability in Partnership with Primark
The event also underlined the strong sustainability partnership between Maersk and Primark. Paul Marchant, CEO of Primark, emphasized how Maersk’s green initiatives align with the retailer’s own sustainability goals: “We are committed to reducing the impact we have on the environment across our entire operation, including our supply chain. Through our partnership with Maersk, we have started to introduce green fuel alternatives, such as biofuel, when shipping our products.”
Primark is utilizing Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean product, which replaces traditional fossil fuels with Biodiesel and Green methanol, helping reduce carbon emissions in its ocean freight operations. This aligns with Primark’s ambition to halve carbon emissions across its value chain by 2030.
Maersk’s Green Transition and Global Leadership
Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk, praised the collective effort required for decarbonization: “It’s great to see customers like Primark taking action and partner with us to decarbonize ocean transport. True progress in the green transformation requires collective effort. To accelerate the transformation, we need the International Maritime Organization to help close the price gap between green and fossil fuels.”
Maersk has set ambitious targets to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, with green methanol playing a key role in its decarbonization strategy. Green methanol can reduce GHG emissions by 65% to 90% depending on how it’s produced, offering a significant improvement over conventional bunker fuels.
A Tribute to Maersk’s Heritage
In keeping with Maersk’s tradition of naming vessels after members of the founding family, “Alexandra Maersk” is named after Alexandra Mærsk-Møller, the older sister of A.P. Møller, the company’s founder.
As Maersk continues to expand its methanol-powered fleet, the company is firmly positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable maritime logistics, setting a benchmark for the industry as it moves towards a cleaner, more eco-friendly future.
About Primark
Primark is a leading international fashion retailer with over 80,000 employees across 17 countries in Europe and the U.S. Founded in Ireland in 1969, the company is known for offering affordable fashion and household essentials. Through its “Primark Cares” strategy, the retailer aims to make sustainable fashion accessible to all, with a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by 2030.
About Maersk
A.P. Moller – Maersk is a global logistics giant, operating in over 130 countries with around 100,000 employees. The company is driving the decarbonization of global supply chains and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 through innovative vessels, advanced technologies, and low-carbon fuels such as green methanol.
Source A.P. Moller – Maersk