Japan’s Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has struck a deal to build the country’s first-ever methanol-fuelled ro-ro cargo ships.
Domestic owners Toyofuji Shipping and Fukuju Shipping have ordered one ship each for delivery by the end of the 2027 financial year.
The unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) did not give a price for the contracts.
The vessels will be constructed at Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi prefecture,.
They will measure 170 metres in length, with a gross tonnage of 15,750.
The new ships will be able to load 2,300 vehicles.
The vessels were not described as car carriers, but it seems likely they will be, given that the two shipowners’ fleets are composed entirely of pure car truck carriers (PCTCs).
MHI said a windscreen at the bow and a vertical stem will be used to reduce propulsion resistance, while fuel efficiency will be improved by employing its own energy-saving system technology combining high-efficiency propellers and high-performance rudders with reduced resistance.
The yard group is promising CO2 emissions will be cut by 10% compared to fuel oil-powered vessels.
The use of green methanol in future will reduce this further, it added.
“In addition, the significant increase in vehicle loading capacity and transport capacity per voyage compared to conventional vessels will provide greater leeway in the ship allocation schedule, securing more holiday and rest time for the crew, thereby contributing to working style reforms,” MHI added.
Toyofuji has a fleet of 16 small car carriers, plus another owned through a joint venture with Fukuju, and two more 4,000-ceu units on order at MHI. Fukuju has three car carriers of its own.
