Maersk has taken a crucial step in the decarbonisation of the maritime industry with the conversion of the Halifax containership . This is the first large vessel to be fitted with a dual-fuel engine that allows operation on methanol, marking a step forward on the path towards more sustainable operations.
The Halifax container ship is being converted into a new vessel
The conversion was carried out at the Zhoushan Xinya shipyard in China over a period of 88 days. Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management and Technology at Maersk, announced that the vessel successfully completed its sea trials and has now returned to service on the transpacific route.
We are now operating with infrastructure capable of using methanol, allowing us to offer a greener service to our customers.
Sonzio said.
The project was not a simple one. It involved MAN Energy Solutions, who were tasked with modifying the main engine so that it could run on methanol. This included installing specialist components and creating a complete fuel storage and supply system. The Maersk Halifax was also lengthened by 15 metres to accommodate the new tanks , increasing its cargo capacity from 15,000 to 15,690 TEU.
A push towards net zero emissions
The transformation of the Maersk Halifax is part of Maersk’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. The company is exploring both building new vessels and retrofitting existing ones with low-emission technologies.
This conversion project represents a valuable learning experience and could be a viable solution to building new vessels.
Sonzio mentioned
With the Maersk Halifax as a pioneering example, Maersk hopes to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner options, harnessing the potential of methanol as a low-emission fuel .
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Source and photo: Maersk
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