CMES to fuel first VLCC with methanol

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has placed an order for a very large crude carrier (VLCC) to be equipped with a dual-fuel methanol engine.

PHOTO: MAN Energy Solutions' methanol-fuelled engine. MAN Energy Solutions

This is the first time that a dual-fuel methanol engine has been ordered for a VLCC. The vessel will be constructed by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry and is expected to be delivered by April 2026.

China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Diesel Engine will construct the engine, which will use MAN Energy Solution's exhaust gas recirculation technology to reduce emissions.

“This is a unique project that represents the first such methanol-burning engine within this particular marine segment and which comes from a major VLCC fleet owner,” the head of two-stroke business at MAN Energy Solutions Bjarne Foldager said.

Methanol's popularity as an alternative fuel is gaining traction. There are 230 methanol-fuelled vessels in operation or on order according to classification society DNV's latest tally. The vast majority of these are on order, as the global methanol-fuelled vessel orderbook only started to swell in the past two years.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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