COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

COSCO Shipping on Wednesday (19 February) said it named China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named this time is the first in a series from COSCO SHIPPING Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

With a total length of 366 meters, a molded beam of 51 meters, and a maximum loading capacity of 16,136 TEUs, this vessel represents significant advancements in various aspects, including technological innovation, green technology, and low-carbon digital intelligence. 

“It is a crucial part of COSCO Shipping’s efforts to meet the demands of green shipping corridors and establish a green methanol industry chain. It will provide robust support for the green transformation of China’s shipping industry,” the company said. 

With its large methanol storage tank, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU will be able to complete a one-way voyage between the Far East and the West Coast of America in “pure methanol mode” once it is deployed on COSCO Shipping Line’s transpacific route. 

This capability offers new possibilities for the green optimisation of global shipping routes. Supported by an intelligent ship system, its energy consumption and green, low-carbon, and energy-saving metrics showcase excellent energy utilisation ratio.

During the project design and construction phase, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry identified 163 research topics in response to the numerous technical challenges posed by methanol fuel application. It received 31 invention patents related to methanol new energy technology.

In the process of arranging for the first methanol bunkering of the vessel, CHIMBUSCO Jiangsu and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou collaborated extensively to prepare a design scheme for bunkering systems for large container ships including terminal tank trucks. 

This effort resulted a certificate of approval in principle issued by China Classification Society.

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 20 February, 2025