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Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., recently received orders for three methanol-fueled roll on/roll off ships
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The orders came from Toyofuji Shipping Co., Ltd.; Miyazaki Sangyo Kaiun Co., Ltd.; and Nichitoku Kisen Co., Ltd.
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The three ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works, with scheduled completion and delivery in 2028
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., recently received orders for three methanol-fueled roll on/roll off (roro) ships.
The orders came from Toyofuji Shipping Co., Ltd.; Miyazaki Sangyo Kaiun Co., Ltd.; and Nichitoku Kisen Co., Ltd, Mitsubishi said in a statement.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group.
The three ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works, with scheduled completion and delivery in 2028.
The ships will be about 168.0 meters in length and 30.2 meters in width, with 15,750 gross tonnage, and loading capacity for 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, expected to cut CO2 emissions by more than 20% compared to ships now operated by heavy fuel oil and owned by Toyofuji Shipping.
In the future, the use of green methanol may lead to further reduction in CO2 emissions, including throughout the lifecycle of the fuel.
Methanol-fueled RORO ships have already entered service as ocean-going vessels worldwide.
This is MHI’s second order for construction of coastal RORO vessels for service in Japan, following an order for two methanol-fueled RORO vessels placed with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in June 2024.
The significant increase in vehicle loading capacity and transport capacity per voyage compared to conventional vessels is seen to provide greater leeway in the ship allocation schedule, securing more holiday and rest time for the crew, thereby contributing to working style reforms.
To address the growing needs from the modal shift in marine transport against the backdrop of CO2 reductions in land transportation, labor shortages, and working style reforms, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said it will continue to work with its business partners to provide solutions for a range of societal issues by building ferries and RORO vessels with excellent fuel efficiency and environmental performance that contribute to stable navigation for customers.
RORO ships are cargo ships equipped with a vehicle ramp like a ferry, allowing cargo loaded on cargo beds such as trucks and trailers to be loaded and unloaded on their own, and transported.
Green methanol is a type of carbon-neutral fuel. It is a synthetic fuel made from sustainable biomass or captured CO2 and hydrogen produced from renewable energy.
The MHI Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense.
