TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING has reached a basic agreement on an order of two world’s first methanol-fueled KAMSARMAX bulk carriers with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., which will be chartered by Cargill. The first vessel is scheduled to be completed in late 2025.

Up to now, most orders received for methanol-fueled vessels have been for container carriers. Tsuneishi Shipbuilding is among the first to start research and development of methanol-fueled bulk carriers using green methanol*1 in order to promote zero emissions in the maritime industry, leading to this current order.

KAMSARMAX is our biggest hit, with over 350 vessels delivered, and this KAMSARMAX is a newly developed dual-fuel bulk carrier using methanol and conventional heavy fuel oil.

Equipped with an independent large-capacity methanol fuel tank, it ensures sufficient cruising range with the use of both methanol and heavy oil.

Moreover, in addition to the significant enhancement in fuel efficiency due to the hull shape improvement, compared to the conventional KAMSARMAX design, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding applied upgraded version of “AEROLINE”*2, our unique wind resistance reduction technology applied to TESS 64/66 series, to KAMSARMAX for the first time. We are striving to improve actual shipping performance by reducing wind resistance.

The stern placement of the simply structured methanol fuel tank is to maintain the large cargo hold capacity which characterizes KAMSARMAX while ensuring the safety and ease of cargo handling, realizing the safe and efficient maintenance by crew.

With most of the principal particulars and specifications of the KAMSARMAX, the vessel also features high versatility.

We will continue to accelerate the research and development of next-generation vessels fueled by not only methanol but also ammonia and hydrogen, and strive to contribute to mitigating the load to the global environment by providing customers with zero-emission ships that achieve both environmental performance and economic efficiency.

About Cargill:
Cargill, Inc. is an international provider and trader of food, agricultural, financial, industrial products, and related services, and known as a major multinational grain company.

*1 About green methanol:
Green methanol refers to the methanol synthesized from collected CO2 (carbon dioxide) and hydrogen derived from renewable energy, and biomethanol made from biomass. It is considered a carbon neutral energy.

*2 AEROLINE:
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING’s proprietary technology that reduces wind resistance by approximately 20% by streamlining the bow and accommodation space. This will be the first KAMSARMAX to adopt the AEROLINE technology.