Interview: Methanol marine fuel ‘favourable at the moment’ with X-Press Feeders, says COO
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Singapore-based global maritime container shipping company X-Press Feeders is currently looking at green methanol marine fuel as the answer to power its energy transition, shared its Chief Operating Officer.
“Bio-methanol is favourable for the operating profile of X-Press Feeders at the moment as it allows our vessels to still maintain carrying capacity while keeping to a green profile,” Francis Goh told bunkering publication Manifold Times in an exclusive interview on Monday (27 May).
“There are many pathways in this energy transition, but methanol engine technology is readily available and presents the quickest adoption path for us.
“LNG requires a lot of space for the bunker fuel tanks and choosing LNG would have eaten up a lot of carrying capacity for our latest 1,200 TEU newbuildings – which are designed for short trips.
“We operate 100 vessels in our global network, so we still need to stay open to opportunities and future pathways.”
The company recently celebrated the first simultaneous methanol bunkering and cargo operation (SIMOPS) of the 1,200 TEU capacity Eco Maestro in Singapore on 27 May; the containership is the first in a series of 14 newbuildings ordered from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings and New Dayang shipyard.
“These vessels run a fixed day weekly feeder route and are very fuel efficient. They can complete one round-voyage with just a full tank of methanol bunker fuel,” he added.
Mr Goh, meanwhile, noted training of crew and office staff to be a key factor in X-Press Feeders’ adoption of methanol marine fuel.
“We engaged Green Marine to provide training for us based on the IGF Code (International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels),” he explained.
“The use of methanol as a marine fuel is something new for the containership sector so we had to upskill our own people both on sea and land to use this bunker fuel safely.
“We paired current crew onboard with seafarers experienced with methanol and supported office staff with subject matter experts. Training went on for at least a six-month period before actual methanol bunkering operations [in Singapore].
“Moving forward, we intend to progressively post crew experienced with methanol bunkering to support the remaining 13 methanol-powered newbuildings as they enter service.”
Related: First SIMOPS methanol bunkering operation completed in Singapore
Related: Singapore-based X-Press Feeders takes delivery of methanol dual-fuel vessel
Related: Singapore-based X-Press Feeders to launch world’s first feeder network powered by green methanol
Photo credit: X-Press Feeders
Published: 30 May 2024
