Danish giant Maersk has sourced more bio-methanol for its ships after a deal with LONGi. In what it calls a major long-term deal, the company has signed a bio-methanol offtake agreement with LONGi Green Energy Technology.
Maersk said that with this move it is making progress in securing enough methanol for its owned dual-fuel methanol fleet of which seven vessels are already in operation.
The container giant highlighted the importance of the deal with LONGi.
“Bio- and e-methanol continues to be the most promising alternative shipping fuels to scale up in this decade, and the agreement with LONGi serves as a testament to this,” noted Rabab Raafat Boulos chief operating officer, A.P. Moller-Maersk.
The company’s combined methanol offtake agreements now meet more than 50% of the dual-fuel methanol fleet demand in 2027.
The first volumes are expected in 2026 with full production expected at the end of the decade.
The agreement with LONGi delivers bio-methanol produced at a facility in Xu Chang, Central China.
The bio-methanol is produced from residues (straw and fruit tree cuttings), Maersk said, adding that this agreement will contribute to lowering GHG emissions from the company’s growing fleet of dual-fuel methanol container vessels.
