On January 26, 2024, in a significant industry milestone, Maersk celebrated the naming of the 'Ane Maersk' at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. The ship is named in honor of Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, the chairperson of the A.P. Moller Foundation and A.P. Moller Holding. This event signals the first delivery from an order of eighteen twin units, all destined to join the Danish group's fleet by the close of 2025.
Boasting a capacity of 12,600 TEU, the 'Ane Maersk' stands as the world's first container ship of this size to be powered by methanol. It will operate using the environmentally friendly 'Green 1' methanol fuel. The ship features an innovative and previously unseen design for a container ship, with the deck and accommodations located at the bow instead of the stern. According to Maersk, this design significantly reduces fuel consumption. The 'Ane Maersk' is set to commence service in February on the AE7 route, connecting Asia and Europe. This route includes the Chinese port of Yantian and the German port of Hamburg. In the Mediterranean, its only port of call will be Tangier.
