Marine Fuel

Methanol Institutes COO Chris Chatterton wrote an article for Bunkerspot discussing methanol as a short and long-time solution for decarbonizing the shipping industry.

The shipping industry’s energy transition is picking up speed, but it has still to achieve the required momentum. This marathon process has a long way to run, but among the future fuel contenders, methanol is emerging as a short-term choice with a long-term role to play. The leadership shown by AP Moller-Maersk in ordering a series of methanol dual-fuelled ships indicates that large owners are prepared to take the decarbonisation challenge seriously. Since then, the trend line has continued upwards, recently taking a swing northward to the point that some 50 methanol dual-fuelled vessels could be ordered before the end of 2022.

With liner shipping the ideal candidate for methanol – regularly serving large ports at which supplies can be found in volume – it is not surprising that operators including CMA CGM, MSC, Pacific International Lines, X-Press Feeders, and the biggest shipping company in the world, COSCO, have either expressed interest or placed firm orders.

A  Longspur Research report addresses the reduction of emissions from the global maritime sector has verified the benefits of methanol as a marine fuel highlighting it as a key solution for decarbonization.

A coalition of some of the leading names in sustainable shipping collaborated on a Joint Industry Project to enable product tanker charterers and shipowners to utilize Methanol as fuel regardless of the cargo carried. The Methanol Institute worked with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, MAN Energy Solutions, and DNV to develop a design that meets all prevailing safety requirements with minimal loss of cargo capacity and low additional build costs. The infographic illustrates how the commercial, environmental and technical challenges were met and highlight the advantages of a Methanol-dual fuel design.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is calling on maritime policy-makers to adopt a ‘well-to-wake’ approach in GHG accounting of fuels to support the decarbonization of maritime transport.  MI believes an approach that accounts for GHG emissions of the fuel’s entire value chain is essential to stimulate the uptake of renewable fuels that can drive the maritime industry’s energy transition.

This report is prepared under the collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Methanol Institute (MI), Dongguan Transmission & Fuel Injection Technologies Co., Ltd. (FIT) and China Classification Society (CCS). This evaluation study is premised upon several high-level considerations: the availability of methanol from a global perspective; the provisions provided by marine authorities; and the experience from early adopters/pilots using methanol fuel for marine vessels.

MI sponsored free seminar was held on Wednesday, May 29 from 1:30 PM- 5:30 PM in Piraeus, Greece. Hosted by Sea Commerce Consulting, the seminar touches on technological challenges of using methanol as a marine fuel, recent IMO decision on using methanol as an alternative and availability of methanol in the marine sector.

The event is sponsored by FedCom, Waterfront, Marinvest, and MI member, Methanex. The webinar is sponsored by SNAME.