Safe Bulkers takes delivery of first methanol-capable bulk carrier

Greek dry bulk transportation company Safe Bulkers has taken delivery of the 81,200-dwt newbuild from Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.

IMAGE: Dual-fuel methanol-capable bulk carrier, Kypros Island. Safe Bulkers's LinkedIn

The Kamsarmax newbuild, named KYPROS ISLAND, has dual-fuel engines, capable of burning methanol or conventional fuel oil. The vessel was delivered at the Japanese shipbuilder's yard in Zhoushan, China.

Safe Builds ordered the vessel and its sister ship in 2023, with the second vessel expected to join its fleet in January 2027.

Safe Bulkers has 46 vessels on the water and 10 newbuilds on order. Of the 10 newbuilds, two are methanol-capable Kamsarmaxes, according to the company’s October investor presentation.

Safe Bulkers has also installed scrubbers on 22 of its vessels. The exhaust gas cleaning systems strip sulphur from emissions, allowing the ships to run on cheaper HSFO and still meet sulphur limits.

There are currently 161 methanol-capable vessels in operation, of which 94 are container ships and 43 are oil and chemical tankers, according to classification society DNV. Bulk carriers account for 75 of the ships on order.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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