The “Yangtze River,” the first methanol dual-fuel conversion vessel of Seaspan, the world’s largest independent container ship owner, has been completed ahead of schedule and delivered at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) Co Ltd. The vessel’s propulsion system and fuel system have undergone a comprehensive green upgrade, marking the integration of China’s high‑end green ship conversion technology into the international top‑tier market.

　　The reporter stepped inside the newly converted “Yangtze River.” The interior has been completely transformed, with the massive main engine running smoothly and cleanly – a far cry from the oily, noisy appearance of traditional engine rooms. The conversion did not replace the main engine; instead, a set of methanol clean fuel supply equipment, an automated control system, and dedicated delivery pipelines were installed on the basis of the original engine.

　　“The challenges of the conversion were, first, to build a safe and reliable fuel tank, and second, to upgrade the original main engine components so that it could operate as a dual‑fuel engine capable of burning both fuel oil and methanol,” said Yun Suodong, project manager of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai).

　　The reporter learned that after the complete conversion, the main engine not only retains the powerful performance required for large transport vessels, but also features clean, low‑carbon, intelligently controllable, safe and orderly green power characteristics, making it the core and most visible hardware highlight of the vessel’s green upgrade.

　　After the full conversion, the vessel’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) has been reduced by approximately 55 percent compared to the international baseline standard, placing its low‑carbon performance among the top globally. More importantly, compared to the years‑long construction cycle of a newbuild, this conversion required less than three months of out‑of‑service time, significantly saving the shipowner both time and operational costs.

　　In recent years, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has successfully completed multiple global benchmark projects, including carbon‑capture vessels and FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) green conversions, and has developed large‑scale, standardized green ship conversion capabilities. Looking ahead, the company will continue to deepen its presence in the low‑carbon ship conversion sector, leveraging Chinese technology and Chinese standards to continuously support the green transformation of global shipping and the implementation of the national “dual carbon” strategy.