Shipbuilder Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc. will deploy in January 2026 the world’s first methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier, assembled at its facility in West Cebu Estate in Balamban, Cebu, according to Aboitiz InfraCapital.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Aboitiz InfraCapital—the developer of West Cebu Estate—said Tsuneishi launched the SC-443, an 81,200-metric-ton, dual-fuel methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier bound for East Asia, on July 17.
SC-443 is the first vessel of its kind in the world and was assembled in April 2025 at West Cebu Estate.
Aboitiz InfraCapital noted that the vessel is made to reduce emissions—cutting carbon dioxide (CO₂) by 10 percent, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80 percent, and sulfur oxides (SOx) by 99 percent compared to conventional models.
According to the Bulk Carrier Guide website, a Kamsarmax measures a maximum of 229 meters and weighs approximately 82,000 DWT—the largest size permitted at the port of Kamsar in Equatorial Guinea.
In a press statement dated June 20, 2025, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hailed the project as a game changer for clean and smart shipping.
The statement followed Marcos’ meeting with leaders from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. during his working visit to Osaka, Japan.
PCO explained that a methanol dual-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carrier is a large cargo ship capable of running on both methanol and conventional fuels, resulting in reduced emissions compared to traditional vessels.
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.—one of the world’s leading shipbuilders—accounts for a significant share of the global market for medium-sized bulk carriers.
The company specializes in building bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers, and operates shipyards in the Philippines, Japan, and China, with business offices across Asia and Europe.
Among the pioneers in research and development of methanol-fueled bulk carriers, Tsuneishi is taking significant steps toward achieving zero-emission shipping.
Further strengthening its presence in the Philippines, Tsuneishi is entering the fifth phase of expansion of its Balamban shipyard, with investments in new capital equipment and enhanced R&D capabilities, according to the PCO.
Since beginning operations more than three decades ago at West Cebu Estate, Tsuneishi has launched nearly 400 ships and delivered over 370 vessels to destinations around the world, the company said.
