TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) announced that it has received the AiP*1 (Approval in Principle) from Nippon Kaiji Kyodai (‘ClassNK’) on 25 December 2024 for a methanol dual-fuel vessel design for retrofitting existing heavy oil vessels (the ‘Project’), which was led and studied jointly with the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.

The design for which AiP was obtained was based on the standard design of KAMSARMAX, a medium-sized bulk carrier that is TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING’s flagship product. The most significant issue in the conversion was determining the location of the new methanol fuel tanks, which were studied in detail. After comparing several layout ideas, including aft, bottom and central tank arrangements, and fully assessing the impact on hull strength, cruising range and the amount of work required for the conversion, it was decided to place the tanks in the cargo hold. The technical review of the design based on this arrangement by ClassNK and a HAZID*2 were carried out and the technical feasibility and safety of the design were confirmed, leading to the AiP.

Bulk carriers currently account for approximately 20% of the global fleet, and medium-sized bulk carrier vessels (60,000-99,000 DWT), which include the KAMSARMAX bulk carriers developed by TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING, account for approximately 30% of all bulk carriers. Due to the long lifetime value of the vessels, which can be several decades, GHG emission reduction measures for retrofitting currently operating vessels to decarbonised fuels are an important focus. In addition, methanol is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure and is easy to store and handle on board. It has lower GHG emissions than conventional marine fuels and is increasingly expected to be a practical alternative fuel. The acquisition of the AiP in this project is expected to encourage future conversion to methanol fuel and contribute to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.

Comments from Mr. OKUMURA Sachio, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING: “TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING has set a milestone to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with the target to convert all vessels from fuel-oil-fired vessels by 2035. This project was a major step forward in providing a decarbonisation solution for existing vessels. Methanol has great potential as a marine fuel, and its market size is likely to grow as it is more widely adopted in the future. We are committed to broadening our perspective to include existing vessels as well as newbuildings, and by promoting initiatives to retrofit vessels with methanol dual fuel, we will contribute to the realisation of a carbon neutral society in the shipping industry.”

*1 AiP, which stands for Approval in Principle, is a scheme for the examination of plans and documents based on the rules for products in the early design stage to confirm their technical feasibility from the viewpoint of the rules.

*2 HAZID, which stands for Hazard Identification Study, is a risk assessment and management method whereby the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of potential hazards in a system are discussed among experts to ensure that the system as a whole is sufficiently safe.

■Related information:
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING joins the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping with the aim of decarbonizing the shipbuilding and shipping industries｜Press Releases｜News｜TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co.,Ltd.

■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/
Company ESG: https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/esg/en/

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: OKUMURA Sachio
Business: Shipbuilding and repair
Founded: July 1917 (Taisho 6)
Capital: 100 million yen
Employees: 901 (as of 1st January 2025)
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 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/
KANDA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Kure-shi, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://kandadock.com/
Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Minato-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/
Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen) Inc. (Akishima, Tokyo, Japan)
https://akishima-labo.co.jp/en/
For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communication and Group Branding Dept.
TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
TEL: +81-84-987-4915
Email: pr@tsuneishi.com