World’s first 24,000-container methanol dual-fuel ship begins sea trials in China

OOCL Wisdom, the world’s first methanol dual-fuel container ship capable of carrying more than 24,000 containers, has begun sea trials in China, marking a major step in greener global shipping.

OOCL Wisdom, the world’s first methanol dual-fuel container ship capable of carrying more than 24,000 containers

The vessel departed from Nantong, Jiangsu Province, eastern China, on May 14 for sea trials and will be deployed on international shipping routes after completing testing.

Built by Chinese shipbuilder Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering, it measures 399.99 meters in length, 61.3 meters in width and 33.2 meters in depth, with a deadweight tonnage of 225,000 tons and a maximum capacity of 24,168 standard containers, the largest among ships of its class, as reported by Xinhua.

Zhang Haidong, a representative of Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering, said the ship’s key breakthrough is the integration of the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel main engine with a boiler system and auxiliary engines, allowing flexible switching between methanol and conventional fuel.

When powered by green methanol, a single ship can cut around 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually while nearly eliminating sulfur oxide emissions and greatly reducing nitrogen oxides, Zhang said.

According to data released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on May 9, the country’s shipbuilding output reached 15.68 million tons by deadweight in the first quarter, up 46% year-on-year. Green ships, vessels equipped with advanced technology or powered by clean energy to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, accounted for 80.2% of new international shipbuilding orders.

Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said China’s push for green ship development aligns with the global shipping industry’s decarbonization efforts.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhe, a professor at Beijing Normal University, said using energy sources such as methanol, liquefied natural gas, electricity and ammonia allows Chinese shipyards not only to meet international shipowners’ regulatory demands but also to benefit from the global green transition.

The shipping industry faces growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Interesting Engineering. International Maritime Organization aims for the sector to reach net-zero emissions by around 2050.