COSCO places massive order for 12 methanol-powered container ships

Chinese shipping company COSCO Shipping Lines has placed orders for a dozen 24,000 TEU dual-fuel container ships that can run on methanol.

PHOTO: Model of a COSCO Shipping Lines container ship. COSCO Shipping

Out of the 12 methanol-powered container ships, seven are set to be delivered to COSCO’s subsidiary Orient Overseas Container Line, and the remaining five to COSCO Shipping Lines.

These vessels will be built by China’s Nantong Cosco Khi Ship Engineering (NACKS) and Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering, with deliveries expected to commence from 2026 onwards.

COSCO now joins other container giants such as A.P. Moller - Maersk and CMA CGM, which have placed orders for methanol-powered container ships.

Earlier this month, Maersk placed an order for six additional dual-fuelled methanol ships, bringing its total orderbook to 19 now.

By Nithin Chandran

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