Maersk Halifax Sets Sail for Green Shipping – First Large Containership Converted to Methanol Fuel

In a significant milestone for sustainable shipping, Maersk has completed the conversion of its Maersk Halifax to run on dual-fuel methanol, marking it as the first large, in-service vessel to undergo such a transformation. Celebrated in a ceremony in China on 29 October, this achievement signals a new chapter in green shipping as carriers strive to reduce their carbon footprints and meet rising environmental regulations.

The Maersk Halifax, built in 2017 and measuring 1,158 feet (352 metres) with a capacity of 15,226 TEU, is now a striking 1,204 feet (367 metres) long and boasts a nominal capacity of 15,262 TEU. This complex retrofit took place at Zhoushan Yatai Ship Engineering and Repair Co., where the shipyard’s prefabricated approach helped complete the project within 236 days, significantly accelerating the transition. Maersk’s conversion project included a main engine upgrade, installation of dedicated methanol fuel tanks, and integration of a dual-fuel line. Alfa Laval supplied the fuel system, and a specialised zinc coating was applied to protect the new methanol tanks by Chengxi Walxin Special Coatings Co., covering 2,800 square metres.

Klaus Rasmussen, Head of Projects and PVU Sales at MAN PrimeServ, explained the conversion’s feasibility, noting that “retrofitting a MAN B&W engine to dual-fuel running is straightforward as our standard, electronically-controlled ME-C diesel engines are constructed as ‘dual-fuel ready’ and therefore readily retrofittable.”

The Maersk Halifax began sea trials on 16 October and completed them within four days. According to Maersk’s systems, the vessel departed Shanghai on 5 November and is set to make stops in China and South Korea before arriving at APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico. Maersk has confirmed that similar methanol conversions are planned for sister ships, with the next retrofit scheduled for 2027.

A Wave of Methanol Conversions Sweeps the Industry

Maersk’s pioneering effort underscores a broader trend across major shipping lines, as competitors COSCO, CMA CGM, and Seaspan (in partnership with Hapag-Lloyd) are actively planning their own methanol conversions. Recently, work began on a 20,000 TEU COSCO containership at Shanghai COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, which will also be outfitted to run on methanol using both the MAN S90 main engine and the Wärtsilä W32 auxiliary engine.

This wave of conversions marks a fundamental shift in how the shipping industry approaches fuel efficiency and emissions, setting new standards for sustainability in global logistics. However, as companies increasingly adopt methanol and other alternative fuels, the need for visibility and real-time data becomes essential. Effective supply chain management is no longer just about moving goods—it’s about understanding the environmental impact and enabling Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs) and Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) to make informed decisions that drive sustainability and efficiency.

The Role of Real-Time Data in Green Shipping

As these advancements accelerate, implementing supply chain and climate-impact visibility software will be critical. Real-time data insights empower BCOs and LSPs to track vessel fuel efficiency, route emissions, and potential disruptions, equipping them to make timely, business-critical decisions. By monitoring environmental impact in real time, stakeholders can optimise their supply chain operations, adapt routes as needed, and achieve greater transparency in their climate commitments. This digital shift is essential for mitigating the environmental impacts of global shipping and ensuring that supply chains are not only efficient but also sustainable.

In embracing methanol and technology-forward solutions, Maersk and other leading shipping companies are forging a path toward a greener future, and robust data-driven tools will be instrumental in helping them reach that goal.

Vessel Bunching Surges Again: A Monster Challenge for Global Supply Chains

In its latest analysis, Sea-Intelligence has shed light on the growing phenomenon of “vessel bunching,” which refers to the number of sailings in a given week exceeding the scheduled weekly services. This occurrence is becoming a pressing challenge for ports, terminals, and supply chain stakeholders.

Sea-Intelligence explains, “For every weekly deep-sea liner service, one vessel would typically depart from an origin region each week. However, in reality, multiple vessels may depart in the same week on the same service due to vessel delays, shortages, or the use of extra-loader vessels to accommodate excess demand or cargo backlog.” As a result, if 17 sailings occur in one week but only 15 weekly services are scheduled, vessel bunching equals 2.

Before the pandemic, vessel bunching was relatively low, but the pandemic caused a dramatic surge in this inefficiency. Analysts note that while conditions began to normalise towards the end of 2023, the recent Red Sea crisis has triggered a new spike in vessel bunching, returning it to levels close to the pandemic peak.

“Higher vessel bunching puts immense pressure on ports and terminals,” says Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence. “Even if the offered capacity remains constant over two weeks – for example, no vessel in one week and two vessels in the next – this uneven distribution creates an extraordinarily high workload in one week, with none in the second.”

This creates ripple effects across the entire logistics network. As Murphy highlights, ports are not the only ones impacted. “This bottleneck leads to congestion across trucking, rail, and barge capacity, exacerbating the strain on already stretched supply chains.”

Murphy concludes with, that given current data “There is no sign that the pressure on ports is about to ease.” In this challenging landscape, investing in visibility software and tools that provide actionable insights is not just a choice, but a necessity for BCOs and LSPs to stay ahead and mitigate the growing risks in global supply chains.

The Need for Supply Chain Visibility in Combating Vessel Bunching

Vessel bunching can be viewed as a proxy for the pressure on ports and the likelihood of congestion. To manage this effectively, BCOs and Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) need more than just awareness; they need real-time insights into their supply chain to make business-critical decisions.

This is where supply chain visibility software becomes essential. With real-time data analytics, BCOs and LSPs can foresee vessel delays, adjust their plans accordingly, and counteract disruptions caused by vessel bunching. These tools can also provide visibility into climate-related risks, helping firms manage the environmental impacts of their operations while ensuring efficiency.