Wärtsilä to supply methanol-fuelled engines for COSCO Shipping and OOCL vessels

Wärtsilä will supply the methanol-fuelled auxiliary engines for five new COSCO Shipping Lines vessels and seven new Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), the largest order to date from the Chinese maritime sector for methanol-fuelled newbuild vessels. 

OOCL’s 24,000 teu ships are to be built at the Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering yard while COSCO’s 24,000 teu ships at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering yard, with the vessels expected to commence commercial operations in 2026. 

Each vessel will operate with three 8-cylinder and two 6-cylinder Wärtsilä 32M engines, which have received type approval certificates from several societies around the world. 

According to the Finnish technology company, studies have shown that using methanol instead of heavy fuel oil can cut CO2 and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Green methanol derived from renewable sources could achieve a further reduction in carbon footprint and become one of the central decarbonisation solutions for carriers, Wärtsilä noted. 

Roger Holm, Wärtsilä Marine president and Wärtsilä Corporation executive vice president, said: “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 GHG emissions. 

“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 transitions towards greener fuels.” 

He added: “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 ships will be equipped with the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust cleaning systems and alternators, supplied through Wärtsilä’s joint venture company, CWEC (Shanghai) Company.

Source: Container Mag

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