On June 1, SEASPAN YANGTZE, the first methanol dual-fuel retrofitted vessel owned by Seaspan — the world’s largest independent container shipowner — was successfully completed and delivered ahead of schedule at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai).
From executing the nation’s first methanol retrofit project for an ultra-large container vessel to currently serving top-tier international shipowners, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has long since honed its formidable expertise in green retrofitting. Drawing upon the mature technologies, standardized construction processes, and comprehensive supply-chain management experience accumulated through four benchmark projects—including the “COSCO Shipping Libra”—the company has established end-to-end delivery capabilities encompassing main and auxiliary engine retrofits, fuel system integration, cabin modifications, piping installation, and automation upgrades.
COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) successfully implemented its proprietary “short-cycle cabin block construction” methodology with high efficiency. Operating under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) lump-sum contract model, the company achieved seamless, integrated coordination across design, procurement, construction, and software integration. Furthermore, by successfully overcoming the complex challenges associated with integrating and commissioning new and legacy software systems—particularly within critical safety domains such as main engine control, methanol supply, and engine room automation—the company ultimately achieved the early delivery of the project.
Following its retrofit, the “SEASPAN YANGTZE” has achieved an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEXI) approximately 55% lower than the international minimum standard (Phase 0). With its energy efficiency and carbon reduction potential ranking among the world’s best, the vessel serves as a replicable and scalable model for the shipping industry’s green transition.
In contrast to the lengthy 5–6 year cycle required for the construction of new large dual-fuel vessels, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai)’s retrofit model offers distinct advantages: the entire process—from contract signing to delivery—takes just 18 months. Crucially, during the initial 15-month period dedicated to equipment procurement, the vessel remains fully operational; it requires less than three months for on-site retrofitting. This approach significantly minimizes losses incurred from off-hire periods and reduces operating costs, thereby enabling shipowners to maximize their economic returns while providing an efficient and viable “Chinese Solution” for the global shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.
Currently, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has established a mature suite of green energy retrofit solutions, encompassing methanol conversions for mainstream vessel types—including 20,000 TEU, 13,800 TEU, and 10,000 TEU container ships—as well as special survey scenarios for 23,000 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel vessels. As the only shipyard in China capable of facilitating “ship-to-ship” bunkering for both LNG and methanol dual-fuel vessels, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has cultivated a comprehensive “repair + retrofit + bunkering” green service ecosystem, providing global shipowners with one-stop support for their low-carbon transition.