Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Delivers Methanol Dual-Fuel Container Vessel in China, Adding New Momentum to Green Shipping

The global shipping industry's decarbonization journey has reached another important milestone. Japan's Tsuneishi Shipbuilding recently delivered a methanol dual-fuel container vessel at its Zhoushan manufacturing base in China—Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc. (TZS). The vessel has been chartered to Danish container shipping giant A.P. Moller – Maersk and will enter international route operations.

The delivery of this 5,900 TEU methanol dual-fuel container vessel marks a critical step forward in Tsuneishi Shipbuilding's global production strategy for alternative-fuel vessels. Okumura Sachio, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, noted that this delivery demonstrates the company has entered a new phase where alternative-fuel vessels can be built continuously at overseas manufacturing bases.

"We will continue to prioritize safety and quality while advancing the construction of alternative-fuel vessels under our global production framework, working in close coordination with our manufacturing bases in Japan and overseas," Okumura said.

As a clean alternative fuel, methanol plays an increasingly important role in the shipping industry's decarbonization process. Compared to conventional marine fuel, methanol combustion significantly reduces sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions, and can achieve full lifecycle carbon neutrality when produced through green pathways.

This newly delivered container vessel represents another achievement in Tsuneishi Shipbuilding's alternative-fuel vessel portfolio. Prior to this, the company delivered a methanol dual-fuel Ultramax bulk carrier at its Tsuneishi Factory in Japan in May 2025. Last month, its Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (CEBU) facility in the Philippines delivered what is reported to be the world's first methanol dual-fuel Kamsarmax bulk carrier. The delivery from its China facility further completes the company's global construction network for alternative-fuel vessels.

The vessel was completed at Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc., located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province—an important manufacturing node for Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in China. Zhoushan, as a key hub for shipbuilding and marine equipment manufacturing in China, has been making continuous progress in green vessels, smart ships, and related fields.

China's shipbuilding industry is playing an increasingly significant role in global green vessel construction. From LNG dual-fuel to methanol dual-fuel, from ammonia-ready to pure battery power, Chinese shipyards have achieved batch orders and deliveries across a wide range of alternative-fuel vessel types. Tsuneishi Shipbuilding's completion and delivery of a methanol dual-fuel container vessel in China once again demonstrates the manufacturing capability of China's shipbuilding supply chain in the green transition.

Although methanol fuel technology is maturing, the shipping industry's decarbonization transformation still faces multiple challenges, including fuel supply chain development, bunkering infrastructure, and green methanol production capacity. Industry consensus holds that technological breakthroughs in vessel construction are only the first step—a complete fuel ecosystem is essential for achieving sustainable operations.

For container shipping, leading carriers such as Maersk are actively expanding their green capacity through newbuilds, retrofits, and long-term charters. The methanol dual-fuel container vessel delivered by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding will join Maersk's fleet, providing strong support for the carrier's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

With the advancement of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) greenhouse gas reduction strategy and the implementation of regulations such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the pressure on shipping to decarbonize continues to mount. The construction and operation of alternative-fuel vessels are shifting from early-stage experimentation to mainstream industry choice.

From Japan to the Philippines to China—Tsuneishi Shipbuilding's global production footprint reflects the collaborative advantages of Asian shipbuilding in the green transition. For the industry as a whole, every alternative-fuel vessel delivered represents a solid step toward the net-zero goal.