Recently, M.V. COSCO SHIPPING LIBRA, a large container vessel retrofitted by COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry (Shanghai) to become the world’s first ship with both main and auxiliary engines converted to methanol dual-fuel operation, successfully returned to Shanghai Yangshan Port following a 106-day maiden voyage covering 27,800 nautical miles.
Spanning the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, this voyage marked the vessel’s full-chain operational verification in green fuel application, crew operations, bunkering, and equipment maintenance, providing a practical benchmark for the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.
Upon the completion of the maiden voyage, the team from COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry (Shanghai) promptly boarded the vessel for a follow-up visit, conducting on-site assessments of its operational performance and soliciting feedback from the ship’s crew. According to the ship management company and the crew members, the retrofitted M.V. COSCO SHIPPING LIBRA maintained stable operations in methanol mode, with key equipment performing as expected, and its energy efficiency and emission reduction effects gradually becoming evident. The ship’s operator commended the retrofit technology, project management, and post-delivery support, and also put forward optimization suggestions based on practical operational experience, laying down valuable references for future similar retrofit projects.
The success of this retrofit and maiden voyage is not only a testament to the company’s technical capabilities but also a reflection of the close collaboration between COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry and COSCO SHIPPING Lines in the field of green shipping. In response to the pressing global demand for energy conservation and emission reduction in the shipping industry, vessel retrofits for alternative fuels such as methanol have emerged as a key focus of industry exploration. The completion of this project provides replicable experience for the green retrofit path of similar vessels. As international environmental regulations tighten and the energy structure undergoes transformation, the R&D and retrofit of new energy vessels are poised for further growth. The data and experience gathered from this maiden voyage and follow-up visit will support the industry in continuously promoting the application of green ship technologies and building a low-carbon shipping ecosystem.
