Koper welcomes Astrid Maersk, the world’s second large green methanol-enabled vessel
Koper, Slovenia – A.P. Moller – Maersk’s (Maersk) second large vessel capable of running on green methanol, Astrid Maersk, made its inaugural arrival at the Port of Koper. This follows the launch of its sister ship, Ane Maersk, earlier this year and highlights Maersk’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Astrid Maersk, part of the AE12 route linking Asia and Europe, arrived in Koper from Port Said, Egypt, and will continue its journey to Trieste (Italy), Tangier (Morocco), and Singapore.
“This is a remarkable moment and a great pleasure to witness the arrival of Astrid Maersk in Koper. The launch of this class of vessels marks a significant milestone in our journey to decarbonize ocean transportation. Astrid Maersk and her sister vessels symbolize our sustainability and innovation ambitions. However, this journey requires collaboration from the entire ecosystem, including customers, partners, regulators, and other stakeholders. The Port of Koper is one of our key partners. Today, we have visible proof that we are moving in the right direction,” said Ivić Vodopija, Country Manager for East Adriatic and Central Europe at Maersk.
Gregor Belič, a member of the Management Board at Port of Koper, expressed the port’s commitment to sustainability: “Our commitment to a greener future is stronger than ever. We are advancing towards self-sufficiency, increasing energy independence, and digitizing processes to reduce our carbon footprint. Over the past few years, we have been electrifying our machinery, replacing many with environmentally friendly electric ones. Our most ambitious project, the electrification of the quayside, will allow all cargo ships to connect directly to shore electricity by 2029, marking a significant step in our climate transition efforts. Our valued partners share this commitment, as these decisions are crucial for environmental protection. We, therefore, welcome our partners’ plans to carry out the green transition in their fleet.”
Port of Koper is a multipurpose port handling various types of cargo. In 2023, the port handled 22.3 million tons of cargo, including 1.066 million TEUs and 916,728 vehicle units, making it the largest container terminal in the Adriatic and one of the most important car terminals in Europe. Over the next five years, the port aims to become the first choice among southern European ports by providing reliable, high-quality services aligned with sustainable development, increasing infrastructure capacity, accelerating smart port initiatives, ensuring adequate staffing, and prioritizing sustainability and environmental protection.
Astrid Maersk, equipped with a state-of-the-art dual-fuel engine capable of running on green methanol, is the second of 18 large vessels ordered by Maersk. These vessels, to be added to the fleet in 2024 and 2025, feature an industry-first innovative design with the bridge and accommodation at the front, allowing more cargo capacity and reducing consumption per container.
Maersk defines green fuels as those with a minimum of 65% greenhouse gas emissions reductions on a lifecycle basis compared to fossil reference fuels.
About Maersk
A.P. Moller – Maersk is an integrated logistics company dedicated to connecting and simplifying its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, it operates in over 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. Maersk aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 across its entire business through new technologies, vessels, and green fuels.
