Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry and Cosco Shipping Container Lines have signed a contract in Shanghai to construct 12 14,000 TEU container ships with dual-fuel methanol propulsion.
A new generation of vessels
The ships belong to a new generation of ship types developed jointly by Cosco Shipping Lines, Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry and the China Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering Design and Research Institute. They will be 335.9m long and 51m wide, with an invisible bulb bow and stern energy-saving device. The vessels will have a loading capacity of 13,700 standard containers and a high loading capacity for reefer containers to provide end-to-end cold-chain services to customers worldwide.
Green technology to reduce emissions
According to the companies, the new vessels will be equipped with the world’s most powerful permanent magnet shaft generator, a bow wind deflector, an air lubrication system for the hull and intelligent systems developed by Cosco Shipping. These fulfill the third phase of EEDI energy efficiency indicators and the latest cybersecurity regulations. The dual-fueled main engine and generator are powered by methanol to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Â
Credit: Cosco Shipping Holdings
Accelerating the green transition
Cosco Shipping Holdings is focusing on building new ships and modernizing existing vessels to accelerate the green and low-carbon transition of the company’s fleet. In 2022 it ordered 12 24,000 TEU container ships with methanol dual-fuel propulsion. It has also signed contracts for the conversion of eight ships to methanol dual-fuel propulsion while promoting environmentally friendly development practices such as all-electric ship operation and biofuel pilot projects.
Cosco Shipping Holdings plans to continue to focus on ‘digital intelligence’ and ‘green and low-carbon’, strive for innovation and accelerate upgrades, and achieve a successful balance between high-quality development and global sustainable development. This is intended to open up a new era of development, create a new development momentum, provide better services to customers and create more value for shareholders.
In related news, Maersk recently signed off new building orders and time-charter contracts for 800,000 TEU methanol and liquified gas dual-fuel vessels as part of its fleet renewal program initiated in 2021 to order around 160,000 TEU per year. Click here to read the full story.