More methanol-powered vessels ordered
Stena Bulk recently announced a joint venture with Proman Shipping to build two methanol-powered vessels with delivery scheduled for the beginning of 2022. As a marine fuel, methanol is compliant with the IMO’s 2020 regulations by reducing sulphur oxides (SOx) by approximately 99%, and has the ability to meet tier III nitrogen oxide (NOx) regulations without after-treatment.
Furthermore, methanol is currently available at more than 88 of the world’s top 100 ports. The methanol-fuelled ferry "Stena Germanica" was the first vessel to run on methanol as a marine fuel, converted in early 2015 at Remontowa Shipyard in Poland.
"Stena Germanica’s" conversion was a co-operation between Methanex Corporation, Stena Line, Wärtsilä, the Port of Gothenburg and the Port of Kiel. The project was co-financed by the European Union, and the classification of the conversion to methanol was conducted by Lloyd's Register.
Wärtsilä, Stena, and Methanex Corporation now mark five years of successful operation of the ferry which began the world’s first methanol-powered sailings between Gothenburg, Sweden and Kiel, Germany in late March 2015. (mw)