On May 29, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), together with China Shipbuilding Trading (CSTC), signed a construction contract for four methanol-fueled READY 11,000 TEU large container vessels with Singapore’s X-PRESS Company.
It is reported that the contracted methanol-fueled READY 11,000TEU large container vessel is independently developed and designed by SWS, with a capacity of 11,000 standard 20-foot containers.
This 11,000 TEU container vessel is customized for X-PRESS, based on the conventional fuel-powered double-island design. The addition of a reserved methanol-fueled power system will significantly reduce the cost of subsequent green fuel conversions for the owner.
At the same time, the container vessel is equipped with several desulfurization, carbon reduction, energy saving and drag reduction devices such as desulfurization towers and windbreaks, which will greatly optimize the rapidity and reduce carbon emissions while significantly lowering fuel consumption and lowering operating costs.
As early as 2013, SWS successfully undertook three 18,000 TEU ultra-large container vessels, breaking the monopoly of South Korean shipbuilders in this field. Later, SWS undertook a batch of 20,000 TEU and 21,000 TEU ultra-large container vessels, becoming a pioneer of China’s shipbuilders to enter the ultra-large container vessel market.
In 2020, SWS entered the 7,000 TEU class container vessel market, and has received orders for a total of 36 vessels, ranking top in the global market.
In 2023, SWS signed contracts for the construction of eight additional 9,200 TEU liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel medium-sized container vessels, further strengthening SWS’s position as a leader in the medium-sized container vessel market.