Eco Umande, a vessel powered by green methanol, has entered Klaipėda Port for the first time on X-Press Feeders’ green shipping route.
The green methanol-powered vessel which will transport containers to and from the Klaipėda Container Terminal, is 148 metres long and has a nominal capacity of 1,260 TEU.
The Eco Umande will visit the port every second week while operating on the following route:
Rotterdam – Antwerp – Klaipėda – Riga – Rotterdam.
In April of this year, X-Press Feeders and six European ports, including Klaipėda, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to accelerate the establishment of green shipping corridors and the broader decarbonisation of the marine sector in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea.
Through this MoU, parties agreed to work together to further develop infrastructure for the provision and bunkering of alternative fuels such as green methanol.
Adding the Port of Klaipėda to the green shipping route is a continuation of the cooperation agreement signed between Klaipėda Port and X-Press Feeders.
“Today, the Port of Klaipėda marks an important historical moment – the arrival of Eco Umande, the first green methanol-powered vessel that will regularly operate in the port,” said Algis Latakas, CEO of the Port of Klaipėda Authority.
“This event not only symbolises the beginning of a new era of sustainable shipping at the Port of Klaipėda but also integrates Lithuania into the international network of green shipping routes.
“It is a great recognition of our efforts to achieve environmental goals and proof that we are among the most advanced ports in Europe. Alongside ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp, we are contributing to the development of a sustainable maritime shipping industry.”
READ: Klaipėda Port to receive hybrid pilot boats
“At X-Press Feeders, we are committed to advancing sustainable shipping practices,” said Francis Goh, COO, X-Press Feeders.
“The arrival of the Eco Umande, our green methanol-powered vessel, at the Port of Klaipėda marks a significant milestone not only for our company but also for the shipping industry as a whole.
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fostering environmentally friendly operations across global shipping routes. By partnering with forward-thinking ports like Klaipėda, we are taking concrete steps toward a more sustainable shipping industry throughout Europe.”
Earlier this May, the Port of Klaipeda announced that it has completed its first successful ship-to-ship (STS) liquified natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation.
More recently, the Klaipeda State Seaport Authority instructed Western Baltija Shipbuilding (WBS) to build Lithuania’s first hydrogen-electric ship.
