You are using an outdated browser For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Subscribe Get Daily Email Subscribe --> Contact Us Sign in Home News & Features Compliance Costs Bunker Prices Bunker Intelligence Asia/Pacific News Latest Features World Americas EMEA Asia/Pacific Home News & Features Asia / Pacific Existing Structures a Major Challenge in First Methanol Boxship Conversion: DNV Existing Structures a Major Challenge in First Methanol Boxship Conversion: DNV by Ship & Bunker News Team Tuesday June 16, 2026 Tweet Follow @shipandbunker The Cosco Shipping Libra was fitted with methanol-fuelled engines from Everllence. Image Credit: Cosco Shipping Retrofitting a 20,000-TEU container ship for methanol propulsion proved significantly more complex than a newbuild project, according to classification society DNV . The conversion of Cosco Shipping Libra required engineers to work around existing ship structures while integrating new fuel, automation and safety systems into limited onboard space, it said in its Maritime Impact article released on Friday . The Cosco Shipping Lines -operated vessel is fitted with dual-fuel methanol engines from Everllence  last year.  The conversion happened at  CHI Shanghai Shipyard . DNV said the project demanded innovative construction methods and close coordination among suppliers as methanol tanks, fuel supply systems, automation equipment and safety systems were installed onboard. Software commissioning also emerged as a major challenge. “ Software commissioning took far longer than expected Yan Hao According to DNV, integrating control systems, automation platforms and remote-operation interfaces took significantly longer than expected on the first vessel. Because the project involved multiple suppliers and was the first methanol retrofit of its kind, there was little reference data available. "For the first vessel, software commissioning took far longer than e