Japanese shipowner and operator Idemitsu Tanker has signed a contract with Nihon Shipyard (a joint venture shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United) to build two 309,400 DWT methanol dual-fuel very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs). The cost of each vessel is about US$135 million, and the total price is about US$270 million, and are expected to be delivered in 2028 and 2029.
This type of VLCC is based on a concept design jointly developed by NYK, Idemitsu Tanker, Iino Kaiun Kaisha and Nippon Shipyard. The vessel is 339.5 meters long, 60.0 meters wide and has a draft of 21 meters. It is equipped with a methanol dual-fuel engine that can use methanol and traditional heavy fuel oil, and is equipped with a large shaft generator, which significantly reduces the carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions.
It is worth noting that the two newbuildings ordered by Idemitsu Tanker will also be equipped with two sets of rotor sails, which is the first of its kind among newbuild VLCCs in the world.
In addition to the order from Idemitsu Tanker, Nihon Shipyard will also build methanol dual-fuel VLCCs for Iino Kaiun Kaisha and NYK.
In October 2024, Iino Kaiun Kaisha ordered a methanol dual-fuel VLCC from Nihon Shipyard, which is said to be Japan’s first methanol-powered tanker. In April this year, NYK ordered a methanol dual-fuel VLCC from Nihon Shipyard, which will become the first methanol dual-fuel VLCC newbuilding in NYK’s VLCC fleet. The two vessels will be delivered in 2027 and 2028 respectively, and will sign a charter contract with Idemitsu Tanker.