Methanol
Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project outlines port’s green methanol bunkering hub ambition
Study explores current use of alternative bunker fuels in the shipping industry, and challenges the sector faces in transitioning from conventional fuels to net zero carbon fuels.

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2 months agoon
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The Port of Tyne, working with Connected Places Catapult and partners Arup, Lloyds Register, EDF R&D UK, Newcastle University and the North East LEP, on Tuesday (19 September) published the results of a feasibility study looking at the decarbonisation of the maritime industry through the creation of green shipping corridors, and the adoption of scalable zero-emission energy sources.
The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor Project – funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK as part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2) – sets out the opportunities and economic and environmental benefits of creating a new, green shipping corridor from North-East England that links the region with the European Green Corridors Network
The study also explores the current use of alternative bunker fuels in the shipping industry, and some of the challenges the sector faces in transitioning from conventional fuels to net zero carbon fuels like methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia.
It is hoped the study, and the accompanying roadmap, will create opportunities for UK ports - including the Port of Tyne - to lead shipping’s transition to net zero, which currently accounts for approximately 3% of annual CO2 emissions globally.
Dr Eleni Bougioukou, Innovation Manager at the Port of Tyne, said: “Through The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor Project we have been investigating what technology, infrastructure investment, and interventions are needed to create a green shipping corridor from the Port of Tyne to Rotterdam using renewable methanol.
“One of the biggest challenges we have found is the current cost differential between conventional and zero emissions fuels. The cost of alternative fuels in the maritime sector is prohibiting the pace of decarbonisation. There is also a need for greater investment in research, innovation, and digital adoption to help improve technologies that increase productivity throughout green corridors, ensuring they generate a positive return on investment.
“Despite some of the challenges, green corridors provide a huge opportunity to transform the current model of shipping by investing in staff, skills, and infrastructure. Working collaboratively to develop and share facilities, aggregate demand for future fuels, and align funding strategies, we can position the UK at the forefront of green shipbuilding and maritime technology.”
The study explores the technical, strategic, and commercial barriers and enablers to creating a green shipping corridor in North-East England. It goes on to look at the economic and regulatory feasibility of the project, and the opportunities to attract inward investment.
The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor Roadmap outlines a series of milestones and activities that the Port of Tyne, its customers, and the green methanol supply chain, will need to deliver to establish the Port as a green methanol bunkering hub.
Compiled through stakeholder engagement, literature review, and analysis of port and vessel-calling data, The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor Project provides the roadmap to create more green shipping corridors in ports across the UK and encourage the early adoption of alternatives to petroleum-based fuels in the maritime industry.
The study shows that a holistic view of the fuel production, bunkering and vessel system is required to examine the opportunities at the Port of Tyne and regionally. There’s an opportunity for the NE to be a leader in UK maritime decarbonisation, with the right public and private actions. We’re looking forward to seeing ideas translate to action in the near term!”
The Clean Tyne Shipping Corridor project was awarded over £390k of UK Government funding from Round 2 of Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC2). It aims to establish at least one of the six green corridors pledged in the Clydebank Declaration at COP26 by 2025.
The full report is available to read at https://cp.catapult.org.uk/report/clean-tyne-shipping-corridor-roadmap/
Photo credit: Port of Tyne
Published: 26 September 2023
Alternative Fuels
DNV paper outlines bunkering of alternative marine fuels for boxships
Third edition of its paper series focuses on LNG, methanol and ammonia as alternative bunker fuel options for containerships; explores bunkering aspects for LNG and methanol.

Published
2 days agoon
November 29, 2023By
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Classification society DNV recently released the third edition of its paper series Alternative fuels for containerships, focused on LNG, methanol and ammonia as alternative bunker fuel options for containerships.
In its updated paper series, DNV examined the different alternative marine fuel options and provided an overview of the most important technical and commercial considerations for the containership sector.
It explored the bunkering technology for LNG, bunkering infrastructure for methanol, and availability and infrastructure of ammonia.
Building on the foundation laid in the second edition, which focused on the most important aspects of methanol as a fuel, this latest third edition delves deeper – exploring the technical intricacies and commercial considerations associated with adopting methanol as an alternative fuel for containerships.
Furthermore, it provides an overview of crucial aspects related to ammonia and discusses its potential as an alternative fuel for containerships.
Amongst others, the new edition of the paper looks at the following aspects:
- Technical design considerations for methanol
- Commercial implications of adopting methanol as an alternative fuel
- Ammonia's potential as an alternative fuel
- Availability, infrastructure and ship fuel technology for ammonia
- Major updates based on the latest IMO GHG strategy decisions at the MEPC 80 meeting
Note: The third edition of DNV’s full paper titled Alternative Fuels for Containerships can be found here.
Related: DNV paper outlines bunkering infrastructure of alternative fuels for boxships
Photo credit: DNV
Published: 29 November, 2023
Engine
MAN ES announces MAN 175D methanol dual-fuel engine will be available by 2026
Dual-fuel version of MAN 175D high-speed engine, capable of operating on methanol, will be available by the end of 2026; will be available both as newbuild and retrofit variants.

Published
3 days agoon
November 28, 2023By
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MAN Energy Solutions on Monday (27 November) announced that a dual-fuel version of its MAN 175D high-speed engine, capable of operating on methanol, will be available by the end of 2026.
The new variant, designated MAN 175DF-M, will be available both as newbuild and retrofit variants.
MAN Energy Solutions states that the 175DF-M will be optimised for diesel-mechanical and diesel-electric propulsion to achieve the largest methanol share and best efficiency for various applications and load profiles. In fact, the engine has already been awarded the ‘fuel ready’ certificate by DNV, guaranteeing the introduction of this dual-fuel methanol technology.
“The 175D engine is MAN Energy Solutions’ latest addition to the high-speed maritime sector and is, as such, one of the pillars of its efforts to develop a methanol-ready engine portfolio as the demand for such technology has rapidly been increasing of late,” the firm said in a statement.
With its success in achieving series-approval for its two-stroke engines, MAN Energy Solutions said it has used this experience to develop an optimised solution for its four-stroke engines, including successful single-cylinder testing. As such, the results of these efforts will fuel the upcoming development and validation of the dual-fuel PFI (Port Fuel Injection) technology for its methanol-ready 175D engine.
Florian Keiler, Head of High Speed, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The MAN 175D has proven to be very competitive in terms of sustainability and efficiency with the lowest fuel consumption, lowest lube-oil consumption and longest overhaul times in its class, minimising its environmental footprint. In terms of future fuels, the next logical step, apart from being able to run on 100% bio-fuels, is to ensure methanol combustion.”
“Based on numerous exchanges with customers, we came to the conclusion that the dual-fuel principle, reliability, efficiency, a high methanol share, competitive life-cycle costs and maximum achievable output were key requirements for the 175DF-M’s development. Therefore, after conscientious investigation and consideration, we settled upon the PFI combustion technology as the most favourable. Fundamental combustion development will start in 2024, leading up to a first field-test of the methanol engine in 2026. The MAN 175DF-M engine will subsequently be ready for sales release at the end of 2026.”
MAN Energy Solutions believes that PFI is the most advanced technology currently available. Its development targets a highest methanol share over a wide power range while achieving the highest cylinder output in its high-speed engine class. In particular, optimisation for diesel-electric multi-engine plants will allow operation of the engines at an optimal load point achieving the highest methanol share. As result, when using biofuels, the MAN 175DF-M’s carbon footprint will be reduced to zero while retaining full fuel-flexibility for operation anywhere in the world.
Photo credit: MAN Energy Solutions
Published: 28 November, 2023
Methanol
Maersk and China-based Goldwind sign landmark green methanol bunker fuel offtake deal
Long-term agreement for annual volumes of 500KT will enable low carbon operations for the first 12 large methanol-enabled Maersk vessels on order; first volumes expected in 2026.

Published
1 week agoon
November 23, 2023By
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A.P. Moller - Maersk on Wednesday (22 November) said it signed a deal with Chinese clean energy firm Goldwind, marking the first large scale green methanol offtake agreement for the global shipping industry.
The commercially viable long-term offtake agreement for annual volumes of 500KT will enable low carbon operations for the first 12 large methanol-enabled Maersk vessels on order. The first volumes are expected in 2026.
Rabab Raafat Boulos, Chief Infrastructure Officer at A.P. Moller - Maersk, said: “This deal is a milestone for Maersk as it enables us to significantly reduce our emissions footprint in this decade and stay aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius trajectory as set out in the Paris Agreement, ensuring continued supply of low carbon shipping services to our customers in the second half of this decade.”
“We are encouraged by the agreement because its scale and price confirm our view that green methanol currently is the most viable low-emission solution for ocean shipping that can make a significant impact in this decade. The deal is a testament to the momentum and vast efforts we see among ambitious developers driving projects forward across geographies, however, we still have a long way to go in ensuring a global green fuels market that can enable the decarbonisation of global shipping.”
A.P. Moller - Maersk aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 across its business. The deal significantly de-risks the initial stages of Maersk’s net-zero journey and supports expectations for a competitive green methanol market towards 2030. The record-high volumes can annually propel more than half the methanol-enabled capacity Maersk currently has on order.
Wu Gang, Chairman, Goldwind, said: “Goldwind respects Maersk as a pioneer in the field of maritime green fuel and we are excited to jointly promote the green transition with Maersk.”
“With this project, Goldwind will continue to explore the innovative application of new technologies, pursue the organic combination of green electricity and green fuel production, and optimise the production process of green methanol.”
“Goldwind is committed to collaborating with companies involved in the green methanol industry, with the aim to make green methanol one of the most important and economically feasible clean maritime fuels in the future.”
The volumes combine a mix of green bio-methanol and e-methanol, all produced utilising wind energy at a new production facility in Hinggan League, Northeast China, around 1,000km northeast of Beijing.
Production is expected to begin in 2026. Following this signed offtake agreement, Goldwind expects to confirm a final investment decision for the facility by the end of the year.
Maersk will take delivery of its first large ocean-going methanol-enabled vessel (16,000 TEU) in the first quarter of 2024 and is working on sourcing solutions with a broad range of global partners for the entire vessel series being delivered in 2024 to 2025.
Photo credit: A.P. Moller - Maersk
Published: 23 November, 2023

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