Japan Builds Largest Methanol Dual-Fuel Containership
Maersk Tokyo, delivered from Kure Shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture, is the first methanol dual-fuel containership above 8,000 TEUs built in Japan.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Transportation
Japan Marine United delivered the methanol dual-fuel containership Maersk Tokyo on June 23, 2026, from the Kure Shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture. The vessel can run on either methanol or conventional fuel oil and has registered capacity of 8,928 TEUs.
Why it matters
The vessel shows that large containerships can be built with alternative-fuel capability at scale in Japan. Its design aims to cut emissions while keeping the ship usable on conventional fuel.
The vessel's attained EEDI is more than 60 per cent below the IMO reference line, and its registered capacity is 8,928 TEUs with a deadweight of 108,251. Operating performance on methanol fuel has not been reported in the source material.
The players
Maersk
Danish shipping company that operates Maersk Tokyo on its service linking Asia with the west coast of South America.
Japan Marine United
Japanese shipbuilder that delivered the vessel from its Kure Shipyard.
Nissen Kaiun
Japanese shipping company that owns Maersk Tokyo.
The details
Maersk Tokyo was built at the Kure Shipyard and is registered to Southern Route Maritime, owned by Nissen Kaiun. Its methanol fuel tanks sit beneath a forward accommodation block, separate from the aft engine room, and it meets NOx Tier III limits through exhaust gas recirculation and selective catalytic reduction.
Timeline
June 23, 2026: Japan Marine United delivered Maersk Tokyo from Kure Shipyard.
August 2026: Maersk Tokyo made her first call in Peru at Callao.
Industry Shift
Maersk Tokyo's attained EEDI sits more than 60 per cent below the IMO reference line, positioning it well within the efficiency targets set for new ships. The methanol dual-fuel design also reflects a shift away from conventional fuel oil as the shipping sector seeks to cut emissions.
Shippers booking capacity on Maersk's Asia to South America west coast service may encounter this vessel, which carries 8,928 TEUs. The ship's first port call in Peru came in August 2026, so schedules along that route now include a methanol dual-fuel vessel.
The takeaway
Maersk Tokyo demonstrates that large containerships can meet strict efficiency standards while retaining conventional fuel capability. Its delivery marks a concrete step in the shipping industry's move toward lower-emission fuels.
Further reading
For broader coverage of ship design and freight routes, explore Transportation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Baird Maritime.
