Seaspan delivers first methanol-converted Hapag-Lloyd boxship

The first Seaspan containership chartered to Hapag-Lloyd has returned from a major methanol conversion project, reaching an important milestone in the partners’ fleet decarbonization strategy. According to The Maritime Telegraph , the 10,100-TEU Seaspan Yangtze was handed back to its owner on June 1 after spending nearly three months at a shipyard in Shanghai.

The vessel, built in 2014, can now run on either conventional marine fuel or methanol. Engineers carried out extensive upgrades, including modifications to the main and auxiliary engines, installation of new fuel supply systems, additional piping, dedicated methanol tanks, and improvements to onboard control systems.

The project is part of a wider agreement between Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd announced last year. The companies plan to convert five sister ships and have committed around $120 million to the program.

Installing methanol storage tanks slightly reduced the vessel’s cargo intake, cutting container capacity by roughly 1.5–2%. However, the upgrade also delivered better energy-efficiency performance, helping the ship lower its environmental footprint.

Hapag-Lloyd plans to place the vessel back into service on June 10. The ship is scheduled to depart Ningbo, continue through several ports in China, and then sail to the U.S. East Coast, including calls at New York and Norfolk.

 

Picture: Hapag-Lloyd