HMM Selected as 'Best' for Carbon Emissions on East Asia-US West Coast Route

HMM has been selected as the best eco-friendly shipping company with the lowest carbon emissions on the East Asia-West Coast of the United States route.

On the 2nd, HMM announced that it was chosen as the best carrier on the East Asia-West Coast of the United States route according to the 4th quarter 2022 Carbon Emission Index (CEI) survey results by Xeneta, a Norwegian container freight rate analysis company.

Xeneta, together with Marine Benchmark, a Swedish maritime industry analysis firm, publishes the CEI of liner shipping companies quarterly every year.

The index is calculated based on actual vessel operation data and vessel specifications for 13 global routes. The CEI is regarded as an index that intuitively shows the carbon intensity management system of shipping companies.

HMM’s CEI for the 4th quarter of last year was 70.2, which was 27% lower than the average of 96.2 for 15 shipping companies. Notably, it emitted less carbon while recording a higher load factor than the market average.

The significance of this figure lies in the fact that the East Asia-West Coast of the United States route is HMM’s main route. In other words, it is a representative result demonstrating HMM’s company-wide ESG management efforts.

In fact, HMM announced its mid- to long-term strategy last July, stating its intention to strengthen eco-friendly competitiveness. As part of this, on the 14th of last month, it placed an order for nine methanol-powered eco-friendly vessels, becoming the first domestic shipping company to do so. In addition to the vessels, HMM signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with five domestic and international companies for methanol production and supply to ensure stable eco-friendly fuel procurement.

HMM also opened the first comprehensive ship control room among domestic shipping companies. By collecting smart ship data in real time, it improves vessel efficiency and minimizes the generation of harmful substances.

An HMM official said, “In an uncertain environment, eco-friendliness is essential to develop future competitiveness,” adding, “We plan to prepare for increasingly stringent environmental regulations through continuous efforts to reduce carbon emissions.”