DANISH shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has named its newest dual-fuel methanol containership Adrian Maersk at a ceremony at its APM Terminals Maasvlakte II terminal in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The 16,000 TEU container vessel will reportedly serve the Asia-Mediterranean trade lane after completing its maiden voyage from Rotterdam, reports Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.

As part of Maersk's new East-West network, it is expected to do its part to fulfil the company's ambition to deliver a schedule reliability above 90 per cent once the new network is fully phased in. Maersk said that its hub terminals, such as APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, play another vital role in achieving this goal.

Stephanie Pullings Hart, executive vice president and COO at Nestle, and the godmother of the containership, stated that Nestle recognises climate change as one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

"By achieving a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2024, ahead of our 2025 target, and aiming for net zero by 2050, we demonstrate our dedication to sustainability. Our green logistics efforts, including partnerships with Maersk, showcase our commitment to reducing emissions and promoting a sustainable future."

Nestle is said to ship 100 per cent of its Maersk ocean cargo under the ECO Delivery Ocean product, which utilises alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

According to Maersk, these alternative fuels reduce the GHG emissions of the Nestle cargo by more than 80 per cent compared to conventional fossil ship fuels.

Commenting on the naming event, CCO at Maersk, stressed: "The dual-fuel vessels demonstrate that the technology for the energy transition of the shipping industry is here. What is crucial now are the decisions that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states will make in London next month.

"We urgently need regulation to support the uptake of fuels that significantly reduce GHG emissions. At the same time, we need ambitious customers like Nestle as our close partners in the green transition of shipping and logistics which we couldn't achieve without their support."