Posted on June 24, 2024
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received orders from Toyofuji Shipping (Aichi Prefecture) and Fukuju Shipping (Shizuoka Prefecture) for Japan’s first methanol-fuelled RoRo cargo ships.
The two ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with scheduled completion and delivery by the end of fiscal 2027.
The ships will be approximately 169.9 metres in overall length and 30.2 metres in breadth, with 15,750 gross tonnage, and loading capacity for around 2,300 passenger vehicles.
A windscreen at the bow and a vertical stem are used to reduce propulsion resistance, while fuel efficiency is improved by employing MHI’s proprietary energy-saving system technology combining high-efficiency propellers and high-performance rudders with reduced resistance.
The main engine is a high-performance dual-fuel engine that can use both methanol and heavy fuel oil, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 10 per cent compared to ships with the same hull and powered by fuel oil, contributing to a reduced environmental impact.
In the future, the use of green methanol may lead to further reduction in CO2 emissions, including throughout the lifecycle of the fuel, according to Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. Methanol-fueled RoRo ships have already entered into service as ocean-going vessels around the world, but this is reportedly the first construction of coastal vessels for service in Japan.
In addition, the significant increase in vehicle loading capacity and transport capacity per voyage compared to conventional vessels is expected to provide greater leeway in the ship allocation schedule, securing more holiday and rest time for the crew, thereby contributing to working style reforms.
