Japan’s Tsuneishi Shipbuilding is expanding its project portfolio of methanol-powered ships with its first containership order.
The Hiroshima-based shipbuilder has been selected by an undisclosed owner to build four 5,900 teu ships, after previously winning orders for methanol dual-fuel bulkers.
Tsuneishi has become a go-to place for methanol-powered kamsarmaxes and ultramaxes with Diana Shipping, Cargil, Kambara Kisen and J. Lauritzen, behind these orders.
No further details have been disclosed about the latest order except that the vessels will feature a Mitsui-MAN B&W 6G80ME-C10.5- LGIM-EGRTC, a dual-fuel methanol and heavy oil main engine built by Mitsui E&S, which will be the first in Japan to be installed on a ship.
Maersk pioneered methanol in container shipping and recently marked the delivery of the world’s first methanol-fuelled boxship. Other liners followed suit and there are now over 120 methanol dual-fuel boxships mostly booked for construction at yards in Asia.
Tsuneishi said that with orders confirmed for its flagship bulker designs, plans are in motion to roll out more methanol-fuelled vessels “with the aim of realising carbon neutrality”.
