Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) Inc. has launched the SC-443, an 81,200-metric ton, dual-fuel methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier, marking a global first for the shipbuilding industry.
The vessel, bound for East Asia, underscores Tsuneishi’s commitment to cleaner shipping and reinforces the Philippines’ role in maritime manufacturing. A Kamsarmax is an innovative carrier designed with the maximum size that can enter the narrow Kamsar Port in the Republic of Guinea.
The SC-443, assembled in April 2025 at West Cebu Estate, is scheduled for deployment by January 2026. It is engineered to significantly reduce emissions, cutting carbon dioxide (CO₂) by 10%, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) by 80 percent, and sulfur oxides (SOₓ) by 99 percent compared to conventional models.
West Cebu Estate, a 540-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered special economic Zone, hosts 17 locators and employs 15,000 people. Located in Balamban, Cebu, it is known as the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines” and also features a university and a workers’ dormitory. A new expansion will include a commercial district with retail lots, anchored by a neighborhood mall with a transport terminal and a communal park.
Methanol has emerged as a promising alternative fuel, aligning with the International Maritime Organization’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships by at least 40 percent by 2030.
With over three decades of operations at West Cebu Estate, Tsuneishi has launched nearly 400 ships and delivered more than 370 vessels globally. Its success is attributed to Filipino craftsmanship, supported by the estate’s infrastructure and integrated support system developed by Aboitiz InfraCapital’s Economic Estates.
The Aboitiz Group, as the Philippines’ first “techglomerate,” aims to transform industry through innovation.
Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, anchored at West Cebu Estate (developed by Aboitiz InfraCapital), has helped position the Philippines as the world’s fourth-largest shipbuilder by gross tonnage.
The estate’s strategic location and smart infrastructure drive economic growth and exemplify Aboitiz’s vision for smart, sustainable industrial development.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, spanning over 2,000 hectares of developed land, continues to drive economic impact, having generated 100,000 jobs, attracted more than P167.4 billion in investments, and facilitated $54.75 billion in exports to date, further demonstrating the Philippines’ competitive advantage in Southeast Asia.
