Large teal cargo ship, Laura Maersk, docked at a port beside a pier, with containers and a nearby tent structure visible.

Sustainable shipping becomes a reality

Laura Maersk - the first methanol enabled container vessel 

In 2021, the Danish shipping and logistics company A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S placed an order for a sustainable fleet. About two years later, the first methanol-enabled container vessel departed the shipyard in South Korea for its naming ceremony in Copenhagen. Learn more about this project, its significance, and Everllence’s contribution.

100
t
of CO₂ are saved daily, when running on methanol at sea.
19
methanol-enabled vessels on order from Maersk
2.3 million
t
of CO₂ can be saved by 19 methanol-fueled vessels

The project at a glance

By 2030, Maersk aims to transport at least 25% of its ocean cargo using green fuels, supporting the company’s broader goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

As a key milestone towards this ambition, Maersk ordered 19 methanol-powered vessels, each equipped with an Everllence B&W ME-LGIM two-stroke engine. These ships are constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in South Korea. Following extensive testing by HHI-EMD and partners, the first engine was installed in the Laura Maersk — the flagship of this future-ready fleet. After her maiden voyage to Denmark for the naming ceremony in 2023, she is now operational and sailing the seas. The remaining 18 methanol vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2027.
Line of identical light-blue Maersk container ships sailing on calm ocean under a partly cloudy sky

Inside Maersk's green fuel vessel

Large Everllence B&W ME-LGIM two-stroke engine in the foreground of a spacious production hall

Everllence B&W ME-LGIM

The Everllence B&W ME-LGIM two-stroke engine can operate on both methanol and conventional fuels, making it an ideal choice for advancing decarbonization in the maritime sector. It is compatible with a broad range of vessel types, including the container ship Laura Maersk.

Green methanol

Green methanol is produced using green hydrogen from renewable energy and recycled carbon dioxide, making it a climate-neutral alternative to fossil fuels.

Key benefits of green methanol:

  • Climate-neutral
  • Liquid storage at ambient conditions
  • Easy to handle
  • Lower toxicity to marine life, allowing the use of outer ship hulls as bunker tanks

Learn more

Green methanol reactor surrounded by pipes and industrial equipment on a bright, sunny day
Portrait of Bjarne Foldager in a suit, smiling warmly
“We have grown from one order three years ago to more than 200 of these engines on order today. Maersk has been pioneering for other ship segments, it has opened the door for other orders.”

Bjarne Folkdager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, Everllence

Laura Maersk vessel docked at the port under a cloudy, dark sky

Green methanol is the future

On September 14th, 2023, the Laura Maersk was officially named during a ceremony in Copenhagen. The container vessel now operates on a regular route in the Baltic Sea.

Since then, three additional vessels have been launched—each equipped with Everllence B&W ME-LGIM engines.

In parallel, Maersk has commissioned retrofit solutions for eleven existing container ships. This underlines methanol’s growing role in driving decarbonization across the marine industry.

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