HMM Expands Eco-Friendly Fleet with Introduction of Its Inaugural Methanol Vessel

HMM,a prominent shipping company from South Korea,has just launched its inaugural methanol-powered container ship.This is just the beginning, as thay plan to introduce eight more vessels by 2026.

The vessel,named HMM Green,docked in Busan on March 26 and spans nearly 900 feet with a capacity of 9,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). It will refuel with bio-methanol at Shanghai’s port and serve routes connecting Far East Asia to india and the Mediterranean.

By switching to bio-methanol fuel,HMM anticipates slashing carbon emissions by up to 65% and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 80% compared to traditional fuels. The company is also aiming for net-zero emissions by the year 2045 and currently boasts a fleet that includes at least a dozen LNG-powered ships.

Out of the nine methanol-fueled vessels ordered, seven will be constructed by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), while two will be built by HJ Shipbuilding & Construction. In a similar move towards sustainability, CMA CGM recently unveiled its first dual-fuel methanol ship in early March and plans to add eleven more over the next couple of years—also partnering with HSHI for their construction.