Peter Döhle Schiffahrts books methanol-ready containerships at Chinese shipyard

As part of their first cooperation, Hamburg-based shipping company Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), have signed a contract for the construction of four 14,000 TEU methanol-ready containerships.

The ships will be independently developed and designed by the Chinese shipbuilder, featuring a length of 336 meters, a width of 51 meters, and a depth of 30.2 meters, with an ability to carry 14,170 20-foot standard containers.

The containerships will be methanol-ready and fitted with scrubbers as well as energy-saving devices.

The four ships are scheduled to be delivered to the German shipping company between 2026 and 2027.

In 2023, Hudong-Zhonghua received approvals from ABS, Lloyd’s Register, China Classification Society (CCS), DNV, and Bureau Veritas for its 16,000 TEU methanol-powered containership design. 

With the new order, Germany’s Peter Döhle Schiffahrts is jumping on the bandwagon as interest in methanol as a marine fuel keeps growing.

Since the beginning of June 2024, two Taiwanese shipping players ordered methanol-ready containerships in China.

Namely, TS Lines contracted Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) for the construction of two methanol-powered 14,000 TEU containerships and Evergreen ordered six 2,400 TEU methanol dual-fuel containerships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company.