On September 17th, the 9,300-car methanol dual-fuel powered car carrier CM HONG KONG, ordered by China Merchants Energy Shipping and constructed by the Haimen Base of China Merchants Industry, was officially delivered for operation. This is the world's first large car carrier to adopt a methanol dual-fuel power system.
The CM HONG KONG vessel has a total length of 219.9 meters, a breadth of 37.7 meters, a depth of 14.9 meters, a draft of 10.2 meters, a designed speed of 19 knots, is equipped with a 13-deck cargo hold, and is steered at the bow. It is understood that the vessel is equipped with a methanol energy ecosystem composed of methanol dual-fuel main engines, methanol dual-fuel auxiliary engines, methanol dual-fuel boilers, methanol supply units, etc. It is the world's first vehicle roll-on-roll-off ship that uses green energy methanol as its main power source. The designed loading capacity is 9,300 standard parking spaces, and it actually has 9,492 standard parking spaces.
In 2023, China Merchants Shipping ordered two 9,300-car methanol dual-fuel car carriers and four 7,800-car methanol dual-fuel car carriers from China Merchants Industry. The CM HONG KONG delivered this time is the first of them. The power system of this vessel can flexibly switch between traditional fuel oil and methanol fuel modes, meeting the current highest Tier III emission standards of the International Maritime Organization. When using green methanol, it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70%.
The CM HONG KONG series of vessels are suitable for a wide range of cargo types. The successive delivery and operation of this series of vessels will significantly improve the vessel type and age structure of China Merchants Shipping's roll-on-roll-off fleet, further enhancing the scale of the company's foreign trade roll-on-roll-off fleet and its ability to serve customers. As Chinese automakers accelerate their overseas expansion and the export of new energy vehicles is growing rapidly, it will continue to lay a solid foundation for China Merchants Shipping to further enhance it's carrying capacity and market competitiveness in the niche market, which is conducive to improving the core competitiveness and sustainable profitability of the company's automotive roll-on/roll-off ship business.
As of now, China Merchants Shipping Company has a total of 19 types of roll-on-roll-off vessels in operation, including 8 on the Yangtze River, 4 along the coast and 7 on ocean-going vessels. Five new vessels are under construction, including one 9,300-vehicle and four 7,800-vehicle methanol dual-fuel carriers, which will be put into operation from the second half of 2025 to 2026.