On August 28, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) held a naming ceremony at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) for OOCL Grace, its second methanol dual-fuel container ship. The vessel is one of seven 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships ordered by OOCL from NACKS. OOCL describes them as the world’s largest series of methanol dual-fuel container ships. Following the naming of OOCL Grace, the vessels in the series are progressing through the naming and delivery process.

Key Highlights 

• OOCL Grace: The vessel has been named and is the second 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship in the series. 

• Seven-vessel series: The first vessel, OOCL Wisdom, has completed its first green methanol bunkering operation and begun its maiden voyage to Europe. 

• LNG dual-fuel vessels: OOCL has also ordered 12 LNG dual-fuel container ships of 13,600 TEUs as it continues to expand its green fleet.

Second 24,000 TEU Methanol Dual-Fuel Vessel Named

OOCL Grace is the second of seven vessels in the series. The first vessel, OOCL Wisdom, was named in May and delivered in June. In July, it completed its first green methanol bunkering operation at Qingdao Port before embarking on its maiden voyage to Europe. According to OOCL, OOCL Wisdom has a maximum capacity of 24,188 TEUs and is an important part of the company’s green methanol dual-fuel fleet.

The naming of the second vessel following the delivery of the first indicates that the series of 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships is entering a phase of successive deliveries and deployment. In the global container shipping market, the use of methanol dual-fuel technology on large vessels is also moving beyond individual vessels toward series-wide fleet development.

Methanol and LNG Vessel Programs Advance in Parallel

OOCL’s recent fleet orders are not limited to methanol dual-fuel vessels. In April, the company announced an order for 12 LNG dual-fuel container ships of 13,600 TEUs, scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Together with the 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel vessels now under development, these orders show that OOCL is expanding its green fleet through different fuel options, including methanol and LNG.

This is also consistent with OOCL’s broader fleet strategy. In its 2026 interim results, the company said it would continue to expand its fleet, advance fleet decarbonization and digitalization, and optimize capacity deployment and its global network.

New Vessel Deployments May Affect Service Capacity

For global freight forwarders and customers booking cargo, the key issue is not simply the number of new vessels, but also the services on which they will be deployed, the existing vessels they will replace, and their potential impact on sailing schedules and capacity per voyage.

OOCL said that as OOCL Grace and its sister vessels are delivered, the company will continue to optimize capacity deployment and its network. As these 24,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships gradually enter service, vessel deployment on Asia–Europe and other long-haul routes may undergo further adjustments.

OOCL is currently advancing both methanol and LNG dual-fuel vessel programs. As new vessels continue to be delivered, fleet renewal among global liner operators is shifting from capacity expansion alone toward the parallel development of larger vessels, green fuels, and network optimization.

Sources and Disclaimer 

Sources include OOCL announcements and other publicly available industry information. This article is provided solely for reference by the international logistics and freight forwarding industry. Specific schedules, services, and capacity arrangements remain subject to the latest carrier notices.