TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Hiroshima, Japan) has signed contracts with ITOCHU Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) and Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine dry-bulk transportation services, for an order of two KAMSARMAX methanol-fueled bulk carriers. The ships are scheduled to be completed in the latter half of 2026 to the first half of 2027. With the aim of building zero-emission ships, we launched R&D at an early stage for methanol-fueled ships using green methanol*1, which led to capturing the world’s first order in January of this year.

The contract was signed in SAFEBULKERS tower in Limassol Cyprus. Safe Bulkers Inc. is a NYSE listed company with offices in Cyprus, Greece, Monaco and Geneva which has an extensive order book in Japanese yards renewing gradually its fleet with new technology vessels, and a well designed existing fleet upgrade program targeting to reduce GHG emission. Safe Bulkers, Inc. has reduced its AER*2 by 5.9 % in 2022 compared to 2021 and is focusing on several actions under its ESG program.

The KAMSARMAX is the best-selling ship design of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING with a sales record of more than 350 ships worldwide. Our newly developed KAMSARMAX will be dual fuel-fired (methanol and heavy oil). By loading an independent large-capacity methanol fuel tank, we have ensured that the methanol-fueled bulk carrier has ample cruising distance to satisfy customer needs. Moreover, in addition to the significant enhancement in fuel efficiency due to the improved hull shape, compared to the conventional KAMSARMAX design, we applied an upgraded version of “AEROLINE”*3, our unique wind resistance reduction technology used in the TESS 64/66 series, to KAMSARMAX to improve performance in the ocean.

The simply structured methanol fuel tank is placed on the stern to maintain the large cargo hold capacity, which characterizes KAMSARMAX, while ensuring the safety and ease of cargo handling and safe and efficient maintenance by the crew. At the same time, we have applied most of the principal particulars and specifications of KAMSARMAX to maintain its high versatility.

TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING will continue to accelerate R&D for next-generation ships, fueled not only by methanol, but also ammonia, hydrogen, and other alternative fuels. By supplying customers with zero-emission ships that combine environmental performance with economy, we are contributing to reducing the impact on the environment.

*1 Green Methanol:
Green methanol refers to synthetic methanol produced from collected CO2 and renewable energy-sourced hydrogen, as well as biomass-sourced methanol, and is regarded to be carbon neutral.

*2 AER
AER; Annual Efficiency Ratio

*3 AEROLINE:
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING’s proprietary technology that reduces wind resistance by approximately 20% by streamlining the bow and accommodation space.

■ TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING (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/
Company ESG: https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/esg/en/

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Sachio Okumura
Business: Shipbuilding and repair
Founded: July 1917 (Taisho 6)
Capital: 100 million yen
Employees: 821 (as of December 2022)
Headquarters: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan (Main Factory)

Shipbuilding Business Affiliates:
TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. (Cebu, Philippines)
http://www.thici.com/
TSUNEISHI GROUP (ZHOUSHAN) SHIPBUILDING, Inc (Zhejiang, China)
http://www.tsuneishi-zs.com/en/
TSUNEISHI IRON WORKS Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi-iw.jp/
TSUNEISHI TRADING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi-trading.co.jp/en/
TSUNEISHI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan)
http://www.tsune-e.com/
MIHO SHIPYARD Co., Ltd. (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)
http://www.mihozosen.co.jp/
MITSUI E&S SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/mes-s/
YURA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Yura, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.yuradock.co.jp/en
NIIGATA SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR, Inc. (Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/nsr/
KANDA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Kure-shi, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://kandadock.com/

For further information, please contact:
Communication Dept.
TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
TEL: +81-84-987-4915
Email: pr@tsuneishi.com