Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) on Wednesday (29 July) said two 65,000 dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers, LEM AZALEA and LEM PLUMERIA , were named on 27 July at Guangzhou’s Nansha district. The vessels were designed by the SDARI, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), for Cyprus-based Lemissoler Navigation and built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. According to SDARI, the vessels are the institute’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier design and China’s first domestically developed Ultramax methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers. The bulk carriers are equipped with a methanol dual-fuel propulsion system comprising a conventional fuel tank and two dedicated high-capacity methanol fuel tanks, allowing operators to switch flexibly between fuels while meeting current and anticipated IMO requirements on carbon reduction and sulphur emissions. The vessels are also fitted with an auxiliary lithium battery system to supply onboard lighting power, reducing overall energy consumption. Compared with conventionally fuelled bulk carriers, the methanol dual-fuel design is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. SDARI said the project fills a gap in China’s domestically developed methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier segment in the 65,000 dwt class and provides a mature and scalable design that can be replicated for future vessels.   Photo credit: CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Published: 3 August, 2026