COSCO Shipping advances dual-fuel ambitions with new order for methanol and ammonia-ready bulkers

The vessels, each with a deadweight of 210,000 tonnes, will be built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

The newbuilds will be long-term chartered by COSCO Shipping Bulk, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group. According to the shipbuilder, the vessels will feature significant enhancements in technical performance, including a new-generation linear design aimed at reducing fuel consumption by approximately six per cent compared to earlier models. These improvements ensure compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase III requirements.

Each ship will be constructed with a dual-fuel capability, ready to operate on methanol and ammonia, allowing COSCO to flexibly transition to lower-carbon fuels as part of the industry’s broader decarbonisation efforts. The announcement follows an earlier contract between the same parties for two similar 209,800 dwt ammonia and methanol-ready bulkers, which are scheduled for delivery in 2027.

COSCO Shipping Bulk has also committed to a separate series of 3+5 Newcastlemax-type bulk carriers of the same size and dual-fuel readiness, reportedly priced at around $93 million per vessel. These 300-metre-long, 50-metre-wide ships will incorporate conventional hydrodynamic energy-saving features such as front guide wheels, vortex-eliminating fins and shaft generators, further underscoring the company’s pursuit of operational efficiency.