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DNV: New tanker and bulker expert team in China supports global newbuild projects

Emergence of new bunker fuels along with new efficiency-enhancing technologies and new rules and regulations have led to new levels of sophistication, according Jing Yang Sunny Li of DNV China.

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DNV: New tanker and bulker expert team in China supports global newbuild projects

Classification society DNV on Monday (19 August) published a Maritime Impact article on its Shanghai team that was set up to support the local shipbuilding industry as well as owners placing newbuild orders in China, particularly bulk carriers and tankers:

DNV has established a team of experts in China to provide efficient, timely and proactive support to the local shipbuilding industry as well as owners placing newbuild orders in China. The focus is on bulk carriers and tankers, the two ship types anticipated to see the most vigorous growth in the coming years.

China has been experiencing an exceptional shipbuilding boom since the global economy began recovering from the pandemic. While containerships have been dominating newbuild orders in recent years, the demand for new tankers and bulk carriers is soaring, driven by many new requirements older tonnage cannot meet, especially in the context of decarbonization and digitalization. In response, DNV has created a team of experts to provide fast and efficient information to Chinese designers, yards, cargo owners and shipowners, helping them understand and implement new requirements and technologies while assuring highest quality.

Supporting the transformation of the global fleet

“Based on our market forecast, we estimate that more than 1,700 tankers and 2,900 bulk carriers will need to be replaced in the coming 5 years,” explains Jing Yang Sunny Li, Ship Type Expert for tankers at DNV China. China is the most important country for bulk and tanker newbuild projects, he adds. “According to Clarksons, 66% of bulk carrier and 63% of oil tanker newbuild orders, measured in gross tonnage, are placed in China, while in 2023 close to 80% of the bulker orders were awarded to Chinese yards.”

The transformation of the global fleet in this age of change brings both challenges and opportunities to the shipping industry, the expert points out. “The emergence of new fuels, in particular LNG, methanol and ammonia, along with new efficiency-enhancing technologies and new rules and regulations have led to new levels of sophistication. This calls for closer cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure quality, improved efficiency and innovation. We also want DNV to be the trusted voice in China in tackling this global transformation.”

New shipyards in great need of experienced support

Eastern Asian shipyards are busier than ever. Even the established yards in China are finding it difficult to keep up with incoming tanker and bulker orders, says Li. “Current delivery dates for new orders start at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028. Therefore, we are seeing new shipyards entering the bulker and tanker newbuild market. This year they have taken many orders from Greek tanker owners. The question for DNV has been: how can we support our customers to assure quality, so the vessels delivered are up to the owners’ expectations?”

The Chinese shipbuilding industry has many players, and the logistics of providing the know-how they need can be complex. In line with its customer-centric approach, DNV decided to make access to DNV expertise much easier for all these stakeholders. “At the same time we never compromise on quality,” Li points out. “So we have to utilize our expertise to focus on where we foresee potential risk and manage it from the beginning. The key is to cover all steps of the process, from pre-contract services to newbuild class approval, including technical workshops.”

Supporting ambitious newbuild projects from the beginning

Recent ambitious tanker newbuild projects supported by Li and his team include shuttle tankers for Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers being built at Zhoushan, and a high-standard shuttle tanker for North Sea Shipping at Dalian yard. Both vessel types are intended for operation in Brazilian waters and therefore need to be specified according to the Petrobras standard. The contract for the latter was signed in 2021, says Li, but DNV support to the yard began in 2017. DNV’s global experts organized workshops for the customer, and the ship was delivered in 2023. Furthermore, Xiangyu shipyard is building ten chemical tankers to DNV class; several very large crude carriers are on order at DSIC and NTS; and Stena is having several methanol-fuelled medium-range chemical tankers built at GSI yard. On the bulker front, numerous Ultramax and Kamsarmax orders were placed in 2023, while in 2024 a run for Newcastlemax and very large ore carriers (VLOCs) can be seen. Sophisticated dual-fuel VLOCs with wind-assisted propulsion systems ordered by Shangdong Shipping on charter to Vale marks one of the highlights, together with the unique VLOCs for Winning International Group that will transport bauxite and iron ore from the new mining project in Simandou, West Africa.

Note: The full DNV Maritime Impact article can be found here.

 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 22 August 2024

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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