Project SAVER CleanBlue: Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd Complete First Methanol Retrofit
Seaspan Corporation, a global leader in maritime asset ownership and management, and Hapag-Lloyd, a major container liner, have announced the successful completion of the first of five vessel conversions under their methanol retrofit program with the delivery of the Seaspan Yangtze.
The conversion of the Seaspan Yangtze represents a significant technical achievement and underscores the commitment of both companies to a more sustainable future. Seaspan has been focused on this mission for over a decade through initiatives like the SAVER (Seaspan Action for Vessel Energy Reduction) program and the CleanBlue initiative, investing more than $230 million across 86 vessels with over 550 efficiency and retrofit projects executed.
Following the Seaspan Yangtze, the remaining vessels scheduled for retrofitting in this program include the Seaspan Amazon, Seaspan Ganges, Seaspan Thames, and Seaspan Zambezi. Each retrofit is anticipated to reduce CO₂e emissions by approximately 30,000 to 50,000 metric tonnes per vessel annually when operating on low-carbon methanol, while also prolonging vessel lifespan and increasing fuel flexibility.
Bing Chen, Chairman, President and CEO of Seaspan, emphasized the importance of retrofitting by stating, "Decarbonization is not just about building the fleet of tomorrow, it is also about unlocking the full potential of the fleet we have today. Retrofitting and upgrades on existing fleets play a practical, immediate, and economical role in accelerating shipping's decarbonization journey." He noted the significance of Project SAVER CleanBlue in highlighting Seaspan's customer partnerships and its collaborative technical efforts.
Silke Lehmköster, Managing Director, Fleet, Hapag-Lloyd, also noted the impact of the conversion, stating, "The successful conversion of the Seaspan Yangtze together with the planned retrofit of its four sister vessels is another important step on our ambitious path towards net-zero fleet operations by 2045." She added that the retrofit program is a practical method for reducing emissions in shipping.
Leveraging its fully integrated platform, Seaspan aims to provide scalable, turnkey solutions that assist customers in transitioning to lower and zero-emission operations. Together with Hapag-Lloyd, Seaspan highlights Project SAVER CleanBlue as a crucial step towards fostering more sustainable global container shipping.