Pacific Basin Shipping announced that following a two and a half year collaboration with Nihon Shipyard Co. and Mitsui & Co., that the company has ordered a total of four 64,000 dwt dual-fuel low-emission vessels (LEVs) capable of running on both green methanol as well as fuel oil.
As announced, two of the vessels are contracted jointly with Nihon Shipyard Co. and Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for delivery in 2028 and 2029, and two are contracted with Mitsui & Co. for delivery in 2028 and 2029. The vessels are all to be built by Nihon Shipyard Co. and are of a new design optimised for fuel economy as well as extra upgrades to further enhance the vessels’ operational capabilities and safety features.
The LEVs’ dual-fuel engines make them capable of running on both conventional fuel oil and biofuel as well as green methanol which, when produced using sustainable feedstocks and renewable energy, will generate emissions that can be classified as “low carbon” or even “net zero” on a lifecycle basis.
Furthermore, Pacific Basin has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsui & Co. on 28 November that will give the company access to volumes of green methanol that will enable the LEVs to comply with and even benefit from coming FuelEU Maritime rules and expected IMO global greenhouse gas fuel standard rules. The company is also in dialogue with several green fuel suppliers and producers to develop its access to bio-methanol and emethanol, as well as biofuel (biodiesel).
These dual-fuel vessels offer the fuel flexibility to optimise, comply, compete and accelerate growth for Pacific Basin – in what will be an increasingly challenging regulatory environment and market.
…said Martin Fruergaard, CEO, Pacific Basin.
