Maple Leaf Shipbuilding Industry Wins Fratelli Cosulich's First Order for Methanol Dual Fuel Refueling Ship
On January 15th, Italian shipping group Fratelli Cosulich ordered the first IMO II methanol dual fuel tanker with a load capacity of 7990 tons from Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard.
This new ship has a carrying capacity of over 8000 cubic meters and can carry green methanol and biofuels. It is planned to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025. The ship will be equipped with two fixed pitch propellers, each driven by an electric motor through a gearbox, and equipped with three dual fuel generator sets provided by MAN Energy Solutions. The battery storage system on board will optimize the use of dual fuel generators.
It is understood that according to a fixed price time charter agreement signed with global commodity trader Trafigura, the new ship will dock at the port of Singapore to provide ship fuel for the international ship fuel supply and procurement joint venture TFG Marine established by Trafigura with shipowners Frontline and Golden Ocean Group.
Guido Cardullo, Business Development Director of Fratelli Cosulich Group, said, "This is an important step in this direction for the group, following the construction of two LNG refueling ships. Through this important investment, the group wishes to reaffirm its commitment to decarbonization, and we are also proud to strengthen our partnership with the global commodity industry market leader Trafigura Group."
Kenneth Dame, Global Fuel Manager at TFG Marine, added, "The design of the vessel meets our technical specifications, including strict safety considerations, so it can continue to use methanol fuel as power. The vessel will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the shipowner's demand for methanol fuel will continue to grow. Deploying a vessel powered by renewable fuels such as green methanol will also help TFG Marine meet the requirements of the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority." "The licensing requirements of MPA and TFG's commitment."
With methanol receiving increasing attention as a viable marine fuel, the order volume for methanol fueled ships is also increasing. Many shipping companies have incorporated methanol into their decarbonization strategies, and Singapore Port is also conducting necessary planning to ensure a stable supply of methanol fuel starting from 2025, in order to meet future fuel demand.
It is understood that Fratelli Cosulich Group was founded in 1857 and is a global shipping and logistics enterprise with operations in 27 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Since 1969, the group has been a leading enterprise in the marine fuel industry, operating as a fuel trader and owning a fleet of refueling ships and two small LNG refueling ships in the Gulf of Singapore.
According to Clarkson's data, Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard currently holds a total of 10 orders of 171800 deadweight tons, including 4 chemical tankers, 2 refueling ships, 1 liquefied gas ship, 1 container ship, 1 bulk cargo ship, and 1 tugboat, with a delivery date scheduled for 2025.
