Which maritime giant recently unveiled the world’s largest container ship fueled by green methanol?

Daily Current Affairs

MSC

Maersk

Evergreen

CMA CGM

Correct Answer : Maersk

Maersk, the maritime titan, revealed the Ane Maersk, the world’s largest container ship fueled by green methanol sourced from green hydrogen, marking a significant stride towards eco-friendly maritime transportation.

Maritime giant AP Moller-Maersk has officially unveiled its new methanol-powered shipping container, the Ane Maersk, which is the world’s largest vessel capable of running on the green hydrogen derivative.

It is able to carry almost eight times more containers than the Danish logistics company’s pioneering Laura Maersk, which became the planet’s first methanol dual-fuel container ship when it was launched in September last year (2023).

The new vessel is able to carry 16,000 20ft shipping containers (TEU), compared to only 2,100 for the Laura Maersk.

The Ane Maersk is set to begin its maiden voyage on 9 February from the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, where it was built, to Ningbo, China. It will then continue on to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.

Maersk has ordered 24 container vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of burning methanol, biodiesel and conventional bunker fuel — another 11 of which will be the same size as the Ane Maersk. Six will be larger, with a capacity of 17,000 TEU, while six will be 9,000 TEU.

A further six of these vessels — the sizes of which are not clear — are due to be unveiled by the end of this year (2024).

The company says it has “secured sufficient green methanol to cover the vessel’s maiden voyage and continues to work diligently on 2024-25 sourcing solutions for its methanol-enabled vessel fleet”. This includes methanol derived from both green hydrogen and biogas.

Last November, Maersk agreed to buy 500,000 tonnes of green and biomethanol a year from Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind, although the exact split between the two production methods is not known.

While methanol (CH₃OH) does release CO₂ when burned, it is said to be carbon-neutral when produced using captured CO₂ derived from non-fossil sources..

Source : Hydrogen Insight

Published On : January 29, 2024

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Global Solar Growth Trends :

Ember’s report highlights that solar energy witnessed a remarkable increase globally, with 2023’s solar generation exceeding six times that of 2015. The top four solar growth countries, including India, accounted for 75% of this growth, emphasizing the widespread adoption of solar power worldwide.

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Q .

India's Toy Exports Slip to _____ Million in 2023-24

$102.92

$121.19

$139.53

$152.34

Correct Answer : Option (D) - $152.34

India’s toy exports experienced a slight decline to USD 152.34 million in the fiscal year 2023-24, with limited benefits from quality control measures. Despite efforts to bolster the domestic industry and ensure product safety, exports did not see significant improvement.

Declining Export Trends :

Export figures dropped marginally from USD 153.89 million in the previous fiscal year to USD 152.34 million in 2023-24, as outlined by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). Despite a modest increase in exports from FY’2020 to FY’2022, the subsequent year witnessed a downturn.

Import Trends :

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GTRI’s Recommendations :

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Published On : May 9, 2024

Q .

India Leads Global Remittances, Surpassing _____ Billion Mark.

$50

$100

$200

$250

Correct Answer : Option (B) - $100

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The UN’s World Migration Report 2024 underscored India’s consistent growth in remittances, noting a rise from $53.48 billion in 2010 to $111.22 billion in 2022. This significant increase showcases India’s pivotal role in the global remittance landscape.

Southern Asia’s Significance in Global Remittances :

The IOM emphasized Southern Asia’s importance as a major recipient of global remittances, attributed to its high proportion of migrant workers and emigrants. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh all ranked among the top ten recipients worldwide, highlighting the sub-region’s reliance on labor migration.

Prominent Migration Corridors and Destination Countries :

While India ranks 13th as a destination country for immigrants, it features prominently in various international migration corridors, including India-United Arab Emirates, India-Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh-India, all of which are among the top 10. This indicates India’s significant role in global labor migration patterns.

Published On : May 9, 2024