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On May 8, the Nantong COSCO KHI shipyard christened the OOCL Wisdom, the world’s first methanol container ship with a capacity of 24,168 TEUs, 399.9 meters in length, and 225 thousand tons of gross tonnage, ordered by OOCL in 2022 for $1.68 billion.
The OOCL Wisdom 24,168 TEU ship is the first in a series of seven dual-fuel methanol container ships that will enter operation in the next two years.
According to Riviera Maritime Media, the ceremony took place on May 8, 2026, at the NACKS shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu province.
According to OOCL, the container ship will operate on the Asia-Europe route, connecting Chinese ports to Northern Europe.
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According to Maersk data, the unit surpassed the Ane Mærsk class in capacity and became the largest dual-fuel methanol ship ever delivered.
Compared to the Ane Mærsk, which has between 16,000 and 17,000 TEUs, the Wisdom carries 7,000 more containers per trip.
On the other hand, the other six sister ships in the series are expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2028.
The OOCL Wisdom 24,168 TEU ship is larger than three football fields lined up
The total length is 399.9 meters, equivalent to four football fields in a row.
The hull width is 61.3 meters, more than twice the width of an airport runway.
According to NACKS data, the ship measures 36.2 meters in height between the keel and the bridge deck.
According to engineers, the vessel reaches 22 knots at maximum speed.
Subsequently, the container ship can travel 21,000 nautical miles without refueling.
In other words, it almost circles the globe with a single methanol load.
The dual-fuel propeller of the OOCL Wisdom burns green methanol and reduces emissions by up to 95%
The main engine MAN B&W 11G95ME-LGIM has 70 MW of power.
Compared to traditional marine diesel engines, the dual-fuel system can run on conventional fuel oil or methanol.
According to MAN Energy Solutions, the use of green methanol reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95% compared to heavy fuel.
Therefore, OOCL plans to power the seven ships in the series exclusively with methanol produced from green hydrogen and captured CO2.
According to Maersk, OOCL’s main competitor in the methanol segment, the global supply of green methanol is still the main bottleneck.
Similarly, OOCL has signed a contract with China’s Renewable Methanol Production to ensure an annual delivery of 250,000 tons.
While Brazil built few modern container ships, China delivered 70% of the global fleet in 2025
According to Clarksons Research, China accounted for 70% of global ship deliveries in 2025.
Brazil delivered only 0.4% of the global capacity in the same period.
In direct comparison, the Atlântico Sul Shipyard in Recife has been idle since 2020 without new orders.
On the other hand, the Mauá shipyard in Niterói operates below full capacity.
According to Petrobras, Brazil needs to import almost 100% of the new ships for the Transpetro fleet.
In fact, two of the largest VLOCs (Very Large Ore Carriers) delivered to Vale in 2024 were built precisely in China.
The Asia-Europe route accounts for 60% of global container trade
According to UNCTAD, the Asia-Europe route moves 25 million TEUs per year.
Firstly, the waiting list for the construction of new Chinese container ships already exceeds four years.
Secondly, OOCL is controlled by COSCO Shipping, the world’s second-largest container operator.
As reported by World Cargo News, the Wisdom will operate between Shanghai, Singapore, Rotterdam, and Hamburg.
According to Lloyd’s Register, the ship is the first dual-fuel certified with ECO+ICE classification.
Subsequently, classification societies intend to use the Wisdom as a standard for future green ship certifications.
- Capacity: 24,168 TEU (20-foot containers)
- Length: 399.9 meters
- Beam: 61.3 meters
- Gross tonnage: 225 thousand tons
- Engine: MAN B&W 11G95ME-LGIM dual-fuel 70 MW
- Contract cost: $1.68 billion for 7 ships
The impact of the methanol ship on global bunker fuel consumption
According to the IEA, the maritime sector consumes 4 million barrels of bunker per day.
In comparison, global oil consumption is 102 million barrels daily.
In other words, 4% of the world’s oil goes into ship tanks.
According to the IMO (International Maritime Organization), the sector needs to reduce emissions by 50% by 2050.
Therefore, methanol ships like the Wisdom represent the most immediate path for the transition.
Similarly, Petrobras is studying supplying biomethanol from Brazilian sugarcane to the maritime market.
The CPG collection covers naval megaprojects and the bunker transition in the maritime sector
The CPG has already published on methanol ships and green bunker, in the site’s collection.
Subsequently, the site also published an analysis of the Chinese naval industry, focusing on capacity and schedule.
In other words, the Wisdom is not an exception, but the forefront of a trend that changes the O&G market.
On the other hand, there are those who question whether green methanol will arrive in sufficient volume in the next five years.
Next steps for OOCL and the dual-fuel megaship race until 2028
Firstly, OOCL plans to deliver the other six ships in the series by 2028.
Secondly, Maersk is negotiating 12 similar units in South Korean shipyards.
Finally, CMA CGM has already ordered five dual-fuel LNG megaships in Chinese shipyards.
However, some warn of the risk of overcapacity in the segment between 2027 and 2029.
Nevertheless, industry executives argue that the climate transition will justify the fleet. Still, the delivery of the Wisdom marks the shift from fossil bunker to methanol in global cargo transportation.
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