Pratik Bijlani –
The Alette Maersk, the first container vessel to use low-carbon methanol fuel, just crossed the Pacific Ocean, making maritime history. However, upon arrival in the Port of Los Angeles from China, the 1,148-foot vessel encountered a serious setback: the lack of green fuel available in the United States. Forced to use petroleum-based maritime fuel for its return journey, the Alette Maersk’s voyage highlighted the vital need for global green fuel infrastructure expansion.
This journey was a significant milestone in the maritime industry’s attempts to minimise carbon emissions. Because the shipping industry emits approximately 3% of global greenhouse gases, switching to green fuels like methanol is critical for attaining climate targets. Maersk has been in the vanguard of this change, with five ships now operating on green methanol and another 20 on order. These vessels are dual-fueled, which allows them to use fossil fuels when green alternatives are unavailable or excessively expensive.
Clean fuels currently cost two to three times more than regular fossil fuels, and global production remains limited. China’s Goldwind has agreed to supply green methanol for the first of Maersk’s huge ocean-going boats beginning in 2026, while Orsted has postponed plans for Europe’s largest e-methanol plant due to slower-than-expected market expansion.
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc emphasised the importance of regulatory and political support to increase green fuel use, pushing the Biden administration to incentivise green maritime fuel under the Inflation Reduction Act. “No one can do this alone,” said Venkatesh Alagirisamy, Nike’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, emphasising the need for cross-industry collaboration to drive the green fuel transition and encourage large investments in production and infrastructure.
Marex Media