Unifeeder Group has signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two new methanol-capable container feeder vessels and has an option for additional two similar vessels.
In particular, the German-based ship owning group Elbdeich Reederei will build and manage the 1,250 TEU vessels which will be delivered in 2026.
Robert Frese, managing director at Elbdeich Reederei, commented, “We believe in methanol capable vessels as part of a suite of solutions being deployed to reduce carbon emissions in our sector and are happy to contribute with this project to a greener future in shipping.”
Alongside parent company, DP World, Unifeeder is working with partners across the industry to find solutions to the challenge of renewable-methanol supply, which needs off-take commitments to build production at the scale that the industry needs to replace conventional fossil fuels.
Unifeeder has committed to a 25% reduction of emissions by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2040 and net zero emissions by 2050. The company aims to achieve this by emphasising fuel-efficient practices, regular maintenance and refitting processes of the existing fleet.
“These new vessels can be deployed across our current and future networks, offering a flexible, greener solution to our customers,” said Jesper Kristensen, Group CEO of Unifeeder Group.
He added, “As the number of methanol-capable vessels increases in both our operations and those of our customers, my hope is that this drives an increase in innovation and production amongst methanol producers. This will then complete a virtuous circle and ensure we can operate more and more methanol capable vessels with the right colour of methanol fuels in our networks.”
Unifeeder Group plans to deploy the new vessels on its European network.
