SWS wins LR’s greenlight for methanol dual-fuel 10,400 TEU boxship design

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) for a methanol dual-fuel 10,400 TEU containership design.

As informed, the shipbuilder obtained the approval at Posidonia 2024, Greece. The methanol dual-fuel large boxship is a new generation of green and environmentally friendly ships independently developed and designed by SWS.

It is based on a double-hull design and its power system is designed to run on methanol. Using methanol as a green fuel the company expects that the ship can achieve net-zero emissions.

The boxship was designed to fully meet the current environmental protection emission standards for maritime navigation introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The ship will be equipped with several energy-saving technologies, such as windshields, and twisted rudders, to optimize functions, and reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The Chinese company sees methanol as a promising fuel for the future of net-zero shipping.

To remind, SWS recently signed a deal with Singapore-based independent common carrier X-Press Feeders for the construction of four methanol-fueled 11,000 TEU containerships.

The vessels will also feature scrubbers, and windshields, as well as multiple energy-saving and drag-reduction solutions.

Earlier on, SWS was hired to build eight methanol-powered 9,200 TEU containerships for a European shipowner.

The ships will use methanol as the main fuel, to reduce the emission of various pollutants from the fuel source and meet the third-stage requirements of the Ship Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).