China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has officially taken delivery of the CM Hong Kong, which is being hailed as the world’s first methanol dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) with a capacity for 9,300 vehicles. The vessel was handed over on September 17, 2025, and was built by China Merchants Industry.
Vessel Specifications and Features
The CM Hong Kong measures 219.9 meters in length, 37.7 meters in width, and has 13 cargo decks. Its final design allows for a capacity of 9,492 car equivalent units (CEU), an increase from its original design capacity of 9,300 CEU. The vessel is designed to transport a wide range of cargo, including new energy vehicles, buses, trucks, and heavy machinery.
A key feature of the vessel is its fully integrated methanol-based energy system, which includes a dual-fuel main engine, auxiliary engines, and a boiler. This system allows the ship to seamlessly switch between fuel types. According to industry reports, when operating on methanol, the vessel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% compared to conventional marine fuels. The ship also meets the IMO Tier III emission standards.
Fleet Expansion and Strategic Impact
The CM Hong Kong is the first in a series of six methanol dual-fuel PCTCs ordered by CMES. This fleet expansion includes two carriers with a 9,300 CEU capacity and four with a 7,800 CEU capacity. The delivery of the vessel is seen as a significant step in enhancing CMES’s fleet and supporting the growing export of new energy vehicles from China, setting a new benchmark for sustainable car carrier operations globally.
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Source: Marine Insight
