TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) has successfully completed and delivered “DORIC FLAME”, the 600th vessel in its long-established TESS series of environmentally friendly bulk carriers, on 3 February 2026. The vessel was built at the company’s Philippines shipbuilding base, TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. (THI).

Named “TESS”, an acronym for Tsuneishi Economical Standard Ship, the series is defined by outstanding fuel efficiency and high degree of versatility, enabling it to meet a wide range of operational requirements. Since the completion of the first TESS vessel in 1984, the series has grown into one of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING’s flagship brands, earning the trust and continued support shipowners around the world.

At a time when Handymax bulk carriers typically had a deadweight of around 36,000 tonnes, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING was among the pioneers in introducing the 40,000-tonne-class TESS40 to the market. The vessel was highly regarded by shipowners – particularly in Europe – and played a key role in expanding the company’s market presence. While custom-built vessels had long been the industry standard, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING adopted a standardised vessel concept based on extensive market research, enabling the provision of proven designs that could be optimised to suit individual operational needs.

The series was subsequently expanded with models such as the TESS45, TESS52 and TESS58, with the 500th vessel completed in November 2019. The latest milestone vessel, the TESS64 AEROLINE, is a 64,000-tonne-class bulk carrier featuring a distinctive rounded, streamlined bow design that reduces wind resistance by approximately 10% compared with conventional full forms. The vessel is also equipped with a Fresh Air Intake System (FAIS*) and an electronically controlled engine, achieving approximately 20% greater fuel efficiency than the TESS58.
This combination of improved environmental performance and economic efficiency enable the TESS64 AEROLINE to enhance customer value amid the ongoing decarbonisation of the global shipping industry.

Message from the President
Mr OKUMURA Sachio, Representative Director, President & Executive Officer of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. commented:
“We are extremely proud that our flagship bulk carrier series, the TESS series, has reached the significant milestone of its 600th vessel at THI. Since 1984, the TESS series has continued to evolve under the concept of a standardised vessel design that combines economic efficiency with versatility, while sincerely reflecting customer feedback and market needs. We believe that this steady accumulation of efforts is the reason the TESS series has been chosen by shipowners around the world for more than 40 years. TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING will continue to support global maritime transport by delivering vessels that are trusted and valued over the long term.”

*FAIS (Fresh Air Intake System):
An air supply system that uses dedicated ducting to draw fresh air directly from outside the vessel, improving engine combustion efficiency. Compared with conventional systems, FAIS can reduce the temperature of the air supplied to the engine by approximately 10°C.

■Outline of TESS64 AEROLINE, (600th Vessel)
Vessel Name: DORIC FLAME
Factory: TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc.
Owner: DORIC FLAME NAVIGATION INC.
Ship Type: bulk carrier (TESS64 AEROLINE)
Length overall: Approx. 200m
Breadth (moulded): 32.26m
Depth (moulded): 18.60m
Deadweight: Approx. 63,300MT
Gross tonnage: Approx. 36,000

TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING (HQ: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) engages in shipbuilding and repairs, and is the anchor company of the TSUNEISHI Group, which conducts business mainly in the shipbuilding industry and maritime transport. With manufacturing bases in Japan (Tsuneishi Factory, the HQ), Philippines, and China, the company builds bulk carriers, container carriers, tankers, etc.
Company info：https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/english/

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer:　OKUMURA Sachio
Business: Shipbuilding and repair
Founded: July 1917 (Taisho 6)
Capital: 100 million yen
Employees: 847 (as of 1st January 2026)

Shipbuilding Business Affiliates:
TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. (Cebu, Philippines)
http://www.thici.com/
TSUNEISHI GROUP (ZHOUSHAN) SHIPBUILDING INC. (Zhejiang, China)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/tzs/english/
TSUNEISHI IRON WORKS Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/iron-w/
TSUNEISHI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/engr/
TSUNEISHI MIHO SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/miho/
TSUNEISHI KURE DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Kure, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/kure/
TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd. (Minato, Tokyo, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/tokyobay/english/
TSUNEISHI YURA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Hidaka, Wakayama, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/yura/english/
TSUNEISHI AKISHIMA LABORATORY Co., Ltd. (Akishima, Tokyo, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/akishima/english/


For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communications Dept.
TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION
Email: pr@tsuneishi.com