Two Methanol Dual-Fuel Bulk Carriers Named in China
Key Takeaways
- •The two vessels, each with a capacity of 65,000 deadweight tons, were officially named on July 27 and are under construction for Cyprus-based Lemissoler Navigation.
- •Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding's collaboration with CSSC Trading on this project represents the shipbuilder's first entry into methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier construction.
- •The vessels' dual-fuel engines can operate on either methanol or conventional marine fuels, substantially reducing sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions when powered by methanol.
- •China's shipyards are rapidly expanding their alternative-fuel orderbooks across container, bulk, and tanker segments, reinforcing the country's dominant position in global shipbuilding.
- •Dual-fuel architecture gives shipowners flexibility to adopt lower-carbon methanol as green methanol production scales, supporting the IMO's goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by approximately 2050.
Two 65,000-dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers under construction for Cyprus-based Lemissoler Navigation were officially named in China on July 27.
The naming ceremony was jointly held by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and CSSC Trading, according to a statement published on the shipbuilder's website on Tuesday.
The vessels were designed by the Shanghai Shipbuilding Industry Research Institute (SSI). They are equipped with methanol dual-fuel engines capable of operating on both methanol and conventional marine fuels, allowing operators to switch between fuel types depending on availability, cost, and regulatory requirements. When burning methanol, the engines can significantly reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter compared with conventional heavy fuel oil.
Huangpu Wenchong stated that the project represents its first foray into the construction of methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers. The company noted that the vessels reflect growing demand for lower-emission ship designs as the global shipping industry intensifies efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. The milestone also underscores China's dominant position in global shipbuilding, where domestic yards have been rapidly expanding their orderbooks for alternative-fuel vessels across container, bulk, and tanker segments.
Methanol has emerged as one of several alternative marine fuels being explored as the shipping sector works toward decarbonization targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which aims to reduce total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping and reach net zero by or around 2050. While green methanol supply remains limited relative to conventional fuels, dual-fuel architectures give owners the flexibility to transition to lower-carbon methanol as production scales up, without being locked into a single fuel pathway.
Source: Ship & Bunker