COSCO and China Merchants exploring methanol fueled ships

China explores methanol shipping COSCO and Dalian developed the designs for China’s first domestic VLCC fueled with methanol (COSCO).

Methanol is continuing to gain momentum as a leading option for the shipping industry to address decarbonization. Already adopted by an emerging group of shipping lines, two of China’s leading shipping companies are joining the effort focusing on methanol for their future fuel choice.

During a meeting discussing the industry’s energy transition, the chairmen of China Merchants and COSCO Shipping Bulk announced that their companies will focus on Methanol marine fuel as their primary area of research in the future. CMES chairman Xie Chunlin and Gu Jinsong, Chairman of COSCO Shipping Bulk made the comments in a meeting held in late August according to the Methanol Institute, during which the two reviewed the cooperation between their companies and exchanged views on the shipping industry’s low-carbon transformation.