Liner giants Maersk and CMA CGM have decided to join forces on several areas relating to decarbonisation, claiming today that the joint action will help accelerate the green transition in shipping, learning from each other to go further and faster and seeking other companies to come and join them.
The two companies said they will jointly analyse green fuels including full lifecycle and related greenhouse gases as well as helping to set the framework of mass production of green methane and green methanol.
The pair also aim to develop and maintain standards for the operation of green methanol vessels with regards to safety and bunkering, as well as accelerating port readiness for bunkering and supply of bio/e-methanol at key ports around the world while also looking at ammonia as a possible future fuel.
“This partnership is a milestone for the decarbonisation of our industry. By combining the know-how and the expertise of two shipping leaders, we will accelerate the development of new solutions and technologies, enabling our industry to reach its CO2 reduction targets. We are looking forward to being joined by other companies,” said Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM.
“A.P. Moller – Maersk wants to accelerate the green transition in shipping and logistics and to do so, we need strong involvement from partners across the industry. We are pleased to have an ally in CMA CGM and it’s a testament that when we united through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges,” said Vincent Clerc, Maersk’s CEO.
The move, which both companies stressed is in full compliance with all laws and regulations, will be interpreted by many as a first advance in what will be a radically different liner alliance world come the start of 2025 when 2M, Maersk’s vessel sharing agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), comes to an end.
2M was created in 2015 and came about as a result of CMA CGM being dropped from a possible triple alliance as regulators baulked at the potential scale of all three carriers joining forces.
Do they really believe in this so called green transition or is it just another round of greenwashing like the so called sustainable development?