CMES to order methanol-fuelled VLCC

The board of the Shanghai-listed subsidiary of China Merchants Group approved the construction of the vessel. The contract is expected to be priced at US$107.5 million.

The vessel is expected to be delivered by April 2026.

The vessel is expected to be the first methanol-fuelled VLCC to be delivered, and extends CMES’ investments into methanol-fuelled vessels. In December 2022, CMES signed a letter of intent with China Merchants Industry Holdings for two 9,000 ceu dual-fuel methanol-powered pure car and truck carriers, with an option for another four. In May 2023, MAN ES confirmed that CMIH had placed an order for 2 × MAN B&W 7S60ME-LGIM engines in connection with the order with CSE, in what was the first order for a Chinese-built methanol engine.