MAERSK chief executive Vincent Clerc has called on the International Maritime Organization to help make shipping’s climate ambitions a reality, stressing the urgent need to close the price gap between green and fossil fuels.

The call comes as Maersk is struggling to secure sufficient supplies of green fuels for ships already hitting the water, while simultaneously lining up new orders for LNG dual-fuelled ships, as the company seeks to balance its green ambitions with a more pragmatic approach to fuel availability.

“Leaders of global shipping lines are united in urging the IMO to help close the price gap between green fuel and fossil fuels and making the green choices the best choice for all,” Clerk said as he christened the fifth of a series of six dual-fuelled methanol boxships, Alexandra Maersk (IMO: 9948786), in the UK on Wednesday.

While the ship arrived in Felixstowe for the ceremony powered by green methanol, it will enter service using conventional fossil-fuel, providing a very visible reminder of why Clerc is pushing for a robust greenhouse gas regulatory framework from the IMO next year.

Maersk now has six dual-fuel methanol containerships in service, comprising five “Equinox” class 16,000 teu vessels, including Maersk Alexandra, and the first ever methanol containership in service, the 2,100 teu Laura Maersk (IMO: 9944546).

According to Maersk, these new ships are at the core of its ambitious decarbonisation plans, with methanol enabling a reduction of 65%-90% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional bunker fuels.

However, Maersk’s orders for as many as 60 ships in 2024 thus far, while boasting duel fuel capabilities will be of either methanol or LNG dual fuel specification.

Maersk is understood to be about to sign newbuilding contracts for in excess of 20 ultra-large boxships of 16,000 teu at Chinese at South Korean shipyards.

It has already signed long-term charter deals for a tranche of mid-size and ULCS newbuildings ordered earlier this year by boxship tonnage providers including Capital Ship Management and SFL Corp.        

Just how many ships will be fitted with methanol-fuelled capabilities remains unclear, quite simply as Maersk cannot guarantee sufficient fuel supply.

Even its current fleet of six methanol-fuelled ships it championed in Felixstowe this week are still having to rely on burning conventional fuels to fulfil sailing requirements.

Maersk’s chief commercial officer Karsten Kildahl admitted to reporters at the UK ship christening that in the case of Maersk Alexandra’s maiden voyage it had not been “sailing all green”, despite arriving in Felixstowe on green methanol.

“We said from the beginning when we placed these orders that we will not be able to use green fuels to begin with, and therefore this vessel and some of its systems will also use conventional fuels.”

Kildahl said that Maersk hopes to have its fleet of six ships sailing solely on methanol in 2026, when it is due to gain the first volumes from its long-term offtake agreement with Chinese developer Goldwind, which will grant Maersk 500 kt of green methanol annually.

However, even with these additional volumes of green methanol there is still no guarantee that the ships will not still have to also utilise conventional fuels.

Maersk’s frustration over green fuel supply is equalled by the financial burden being placed on customers, according to Kildahl.

“Our customers are stuck with the choice between going green and then the financial consequences, and these green fuels are two to three times more expensive than conventional fuels,” he said.

“It places our customers in a dilemma between doing the right thing and affordability.”

This is why he said Maersk and other major shipping lines have proposed its ‘green balancing mechanism’ to the IMO, which rewards those burning greener fuels.

Crucially, he said, this removes the discussion with customers where “they don’t need to look between what is cheap and what is the right thing to do”.

He too stressed the importance of the IMO to introduce a legislation that supports Maersk’s ambitions and those of its customers.

“As a shipping industry… we have a body that governs us globally, and it would be a shame not to use that.”

Gemini to launch with cape sailings

Meanwhile, Maersk has also announced that its new Gemini Cooperation, the carrier’s new east-west alliance alongside Hapag-Lloyd, will set sail with services via the Cape of Good Hope upon its launch in February next year.

Last month, the carrier pairing joined Mediterranean Shipping Company and the soon-to-be Premier Alliance by revealing to customers dual service offerings either returning through the Suez or continuing to migrate around the southern tip of Africa.

In a circular to customers, Maersk said that after “thorough consideration, and given the continued safety concerns in the Red Sea” Gemini will “phase in their Cape of Good Hope network for the commencement of the Gemini Cooperation on February 1, 2025”.

“As the situation remains highly dynamic, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will return to the Red Sea when it is safe to do so,” the customer advisory continued.

Maersk Alexandra had taken the cape route itself on its maiden Asia-Europe trip, embarking from South Korea via Tanger Med as part of the carrier’s AE6 loop.