COSCO Shipping Orders Six LNG- and Methanol-Ready 307,000 DWT Tankers from DSIC
Chinese state-owned maritime transport giant COSCO Shipping has commissioned Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC)—a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)—to build six alternative fuel-ready tankers.
Order Details and Delivery Timeline
According to Greek shipbroker Intermodal, COSCO Shipping will invest approximately $119.1 million per vessel for the six 307,000 dwt tankers. Once completed, DSIC plans to deliver the ships to COSCO between 2027 and 2028.
The vessels will be constructed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol-ready specifications, enabling future conversion for dual-fuel operations.
Environmental Performance and Emissions Reduction
Thanks to LNG—the most mature and widely available alternative fuel—the tankers are expected to achieve a 25–30% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. LNG operation can also significantly cut other pollutants, including sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM).
If later converted to methanol, the ships could reduce:
- SOx emissions by up to 99%
- NOx emissions by 80%
- PM emissions by 95%
Moreover, running on green methanol would enable the fleet to reach near-zero carbon operations.
Additional Environmental Technologies
In addition to fuel-ready systems, data from Intermodal indicates that COSCO’s upcoming vessels will have enhanced ecological performance through the installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCSs)—also known as scrubbers. These systems will further remove harmful pollutants to comply with international environmental regulations.
COSCO Shipping’s Expanding Fleet
COSCO Shipping, one of the world’s largest maritime transport companies, reportedly owns around 251 oil and gas tankers with a total capacity of 32.8 million dwt (as of late 2024). Across all segments, the company operates a fleet exceeding 1,500 vessels.
In 2023, China’s shipowners invested $123 billion in newbuilding orders. COSCO Shipping Lines ranked second among the top spenders, allocating $3.06 billion for 18 new Panamax containerships ranging from 13,400 to 14,000 TEUs.
China’s Growing Tanker Orders
Tankers accounted for the largest share of vessel types ordered at Chinese shipyards last year, totaling 526 units worth $24.4 billion.
DSIC, in particular, secured multiple major tanker contracts in 2024. In August, it was commissioned by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) to construct ten energy-efficient units for delivery between 2027 and 2028.
Later, in December, COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation (CSET) signed a deal with DSIC and COSCO Shipbuilding Trading to build six eco-friendly 307,000 dwt crude oil tankers, reinforcing COSCO’s commitment to sustainable fleet modernization
