French shipping giant CMA CGM on Monday (3 August) said its new 15,000 TEU methanol-powered vessel, CMA CGM ROI ARTHUR, has officially been named and is ready to begin its journey at sea.

Joining the company’s REX2 service, the ship will strengthen its fleet of new-generation vessels designed to support the decarbonisation of shipping. 

“Powered by methanol, she contributes to reducing atmospheric emissions and advancing the energy transition of our industry,” the company said in a social media post. 

The vessel was welcomed by her Master, Captain Roman DIDENKO, and her godmother, Ms. Sun Lijun, Vice Chairman of Tianjin Bridge Welding Materials Group Co., Ltd. and Vice President of the Tianjin Women Entrepreneurs Association.

In January, the company announced the arrival in its fleet of its 400th owned vessel, the CMA CGM MONTE CRISTO, the first in a series of six methanol container ships.

The Group is preparing to operate, by 2031, around 200 dual-fuel LNG and methanol container ships that can be powered with low-carbon energy.

Related: CMA CGM marks 400-vessel milestone as methanol-powered boxship joins fleet

Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 4 August, 2026

Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) on Wednesday (29 July) said two 65,000 dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers, LEM AZALEA and LEM PLUMERIA, were named on 27 July at Guangzhou’s Nansha district.

The vessels were designed by the SDARI, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), for Cyprus-based Lemissoler Navigation and built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.

According to SDARI, the vessels are the institute’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier design and China’s first domestically developed Ultramax methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers.

The bulk carriers are equipped with a methanol dual-fuel propulsion system comprising a conventional fuel tank and two dedicated high-capacity methanol fuel tanks, allowing operators to switch flexibly between fuels while meeting current and anticipated IMO requirements on carbon reduction and sulphur emissions.

The vessels are also fitted with an auxiliary lithium battery system to supply onboard lighting power, reducing overall energy consumption.

Compared with conventionally fuelled bulk carriers, the methanol dual-fuel design is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.

SDARI said the project fills a gap in China’s domestically developed methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier segment in the 65,000 dwt class and provides a mature and scalable design that can be replicated for future vessels.

Photo credit: CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding
Published: 3 August, 2026

The European Commission recently said it has approved a EUR 103 million (USD 119 million) State aid scheme by the Netherlands to accelerate the greening of the Dutch maritime fleet. 

The scheme will support the purchase of new clean and zero-emission vessels powered by renewable methanol or renewable hydrogen and the retrofitting of existing vessels to enable them to use renewable methanol and renewable hydrogen. 

It covers different types of vessels, including passenger, cargo and work vessels, mainly operating in the short-sea shipping segment. The support will take the form of direct grants awarded under an open, transparent and non-discriminatory selection process.

The scheme aims to help companies overcome high upfront investment costs and limited market incentives that currently slow the uptake of clean shipping technologies. The aid will be granted between 2027 and 2031 and will help bridge the investment gap in line with the objectives of EU legislation such as the FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emission Trading System.

The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the 2022 Climate, Environmental Protection and Energy Aid Guidelines (CEEAG). 

“The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary and appropriate as the supported investments would not take place without public support at the same scale and within the same timeframe. The measure is also proportionate as it has limited effects on competition and trade in the internal market,” it said. 

Photo credit: Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash
Published: 3 August, 2026