The maiden voyage ceremony for the CM HONG KONG – the world’s first 9,300 CEU methanol dual-fuel powered ro-ro vessel – was held on September 28 at Tsing Yi, Hong Kong. 

Built for China Merchants Energy Shipping, the CM HONG KONG is the world’s first large car carrier equipped with a methanol dual-fuel system. The system allows flexible switching between fuel oil and methanol, complies with IMO Tier III emission standards, and can reduce CO₂ emissions by over 70% when using green methanol. The vessel has an overall length of 219.9 meters, a breadth of 37.7 meters, and a design capacity of 9,300 CEU, with an actual maximum capacity of 9,492 vehicles. Its total deck area of 78,416 m² is equivalent to about 11 standard football pitches. It features 13 car decks, including three hoistable decks and three specially designed for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Twin ramps (stern and side) boost loading efficiency by 30%. The ship is equipped with 156 CCTV cameras, and all 13 decks are fitted with coupled thermal imaging infrared sensors for enhanced safety.

On its maiden voyage, the “CM HONG KONG” is operating on a China-Europe route. After discharging vehicles in Hong Kong, it will proceed to Europe. China Merchants Energy Shipping will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a free port to support the city’s “green fuel trading + port services” model, helping to cultivate new economic engines, attract more ships to bunker green fuel in Hong Kong, and inject new momentum into the development of Hong Kong as a green shipping hub.