COSCO Shipping Holdings signed orders for 12 new 24,000 TEU containerships. The vessels will be methanol dual-fuel powered, to support its transition to green shipping.
The first five ships will come from Dalian Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS), a joint venture shipyard with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. This group of ultra-large vessels will be delivered between February 2027 and June 2028 for operation by the COSCO branded shipping line.
The second set of seven vessels will be built by Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS). Those vessels are expected to be delivered between the third quarter of 2026 and the third quarter of 2028.
Earlier, and most specifically in September 2022, COSCO informed of its plans for an investment of $4.9 billion on fleet expansion including ultra-large vessels as well as midsized containerships in the range of 15,000 TEU.
What is more, Anemoi Marine Technologies has reached an agreement with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (CHI) to install Anemoi’s Rotor Sails on newbuild vessels or retrofit during dry dock.
Rotor Sails, also known as Flettner Rotors, are an energy saving technology. The mechanical sails are comprised of tall cylinders which, when driven to spin, harness the renewable power of the wind to provide auxiliary propulsion to vessels which significantly reduces fuel consumption and lowers harmful emissions entering the atmosphere by 5-30%.