Wärtsilä has secured a significant contract to supply methanol-fuelled auxiliary engines to twelve new container vessels.
Five of these vessels are for COSCO Shipping Lines, while the remaining seven are for COSCO’s subsidiary Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL). Each vessel will be equipped with a combination of three 8-cylinder and two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 32M engines, marking the largest order for methanol-fueled newbuild vessels in the Chinese maritime sector to date.
The order, which was confirmed by Wärtsilä in December 2023, also includes the provision of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust cleaning systems and alternators, which will be supplied through Wärtsilä’s joint venture company, CWEC (Shanghai) Company.
Also, the Wärtsilä 32M methanol-fueled engine has obtained type approval certificates from multiple classification societies worldwide. Studies have demonstrated that utilizing methanol instead of heavy fuel oil can significantly reduce CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, the use of green methanol sourced from renewable origins holds the potential for further carbon footprint reduction, making it a key decarbonization solution for carriers in the future.
“With decarbonisation, a major priority for the maritime industry, sustainable fuels, such as methanol, will play a vital role in helping shipping to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Roger Holm, president of Wärtsilä Marine and executive vice president at Wärtsilä Corporation.
Holm further added, “As a leader in shaping the decarbonisation of marine and energy industries, Wärtsilä continues to make strong investments in developing new fuel flexible technologies and products which enable the industry’s transition towards greener fuels. It’s why we value our long-term relationship with COSCO Shipping Lines and OOCL and are strongly aligned with their vision in accelerating towards net-zero emissions shipping.”
The 24,000 TEU ships for the OOCL will be constructed at the Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering yard, while those for COSCO Shipping Lines will be built at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering yard. These vessels are scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026.
