Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has delivered the first 16,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel containership ordered by Minsheng Financial Leasing (MSFL) on behalf of Swiss shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

According to the shipbuilder, the MSC Viola vessel was delivered 172 days ahead of schedule on January 9, 2025, at its Tianjin shipyard.

Construction of this containership began on May 15, 2023.

MSC Viola has a total length of about 366 meters, a moulded width of 51 meters, and a moulded depth of 30.2 meters. It can carry 16,196 standard containers.

As reported previously, the ship's main engine is equipped with an iCER-diesel green energy-saving system, and the auxiliary generator is equipped with a low-pressure SCR system, which meets Tier III nitrogen oxide emission requirements.

The main engine, auxiliary generator set, and auxiliary boiler are all equipped with a dual-fuel supply system, which can burn low-sulfur fuel oil and LNG gas fuel to meet sulfur oxide emission requirements. It is also installed with the B-type LNG fuel tank, independently designed and built by DSIC, with independent intellectual property rights.

At the same time, the ship comes with various energy-saving equipment, such as an air lubrication drag reduction system, a shaft generator, and an energy-saving guide wheel in front of the propeller.

Vessels

In related news, DSIC also delivered the shipping company a 16,000 TEU MSC Maria Cristina, fitted with a 13,000 cm type B LNG fuel tank, the 'biggest of its kind' in the world, in October 2024. The second vessel from this series, MSC Carmela, was handed over to MSC on January 8, 2025.

In 2024, the Swiss giant ordered several dual-fuel containerships in China, spending billions of US dollars. This was likely prompted by the need to invest in decarbonisation by replacing the ageing part of its fleet, retaining its global position, and scaling further.

According to data from Greek Intermodal Shipbrokers, the most recent order was placed at the end of December 2024 for ten 24,000 TEU LNG-powered units at Hengli Heavy Industries, Dalian, China.