Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has received orders from Toyofuji Shipping and Fukuju Shipping for Japan’s first methanol-fueled roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo ships.
Designing the methanol-fueled cargo ship
The two ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of Mitsubishi’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with scheduled completion and delivery by the end of fiscal 2027.
The ships will be approximately 169.9m in overall length and 30.2m in breadth, with 15,750 gross tonnage, and loading capacity for around 2,300 passenger vehicles.
Prioritizing efficiency
A windscreen at the bow and a vertical stem will be used to reduce propulsion resistance while fuel efficiency is improved by employing Mitsubishi’s proprietary energy-saving system technology, combining high-efficiency propellers and high-performance rudders with reduced resistance.
The main engine is a dual-fuel engine that can use both methanol and heavy fuel oil. This is intended to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 10% compared to ships with the same hull and powered by fuel oil, contributing to a reduced environmental impact.
The increase in vehicle loading capacity and transportation capacity per voyage compared to conventional vessels is expected to provide greater leeway in the ship allocation schedule, securing more holiday and rest time for the crew, thereby contributing to working style reforms.
In related news, Tokyu Land Corporation, SolarDuck and Kyocera Communication Systems Corporation have completed the installation of Japan’s first offshore floating solar photovoltaic (OFPV) power plant on the sea surface. Click here to read the full story.