Alternative Fuels

Mumbai seminar: Participants indicate confidence in methanol as a bunker fuel

With technological and regulatory challenges associated with methanol as a bunker fuel largely resolved, it’s time for the industry to embrace methanol, says organiser.

Published

3 years ago

May 20, 2022

Admin

With the technological and regulatory challenges associated with burning methanol as a bunker fuel largely resolved, it’s time for the industry to move forward and get ready to go green with methanol.

That was the view widely expressed at Rise of Methanol As A Future Proof Marine Fuel seminar held in Mumbai and online on Friday (29 April), says Sea Commerce America Inc, one of the seminar organisers.

It was back in August 2021 that methanol secured its position as a future marine fuel when A.P. Moller - Maersk announced an order for 12 large ocean-going container ships to operate on carbon-neutral methanol.

This landmark order has raised the profile of this promising fuel. However, each shipowner faces unique challenges, and it is not enough to just follow Maersk’s lead and expect success.

In the seminar the panel of experts spoke in detail on installation options, fuel cost and availability, bunkering infrastructure, and e-fuel production potential.

Today, methanol made from natural gas, offers a lifecycle GHG reduction of 5-15% compared to diesel as well as immediate reductions in SOx, NOx, and particulate matter. Methanol offers a 2% lower fuel consumption per kWh than diesel fuel, and engine corrosion and fuel slip are not an issue due to the high combustion rate achieved by the engine designers.

In case of a spill, methanol is miscible in water, with near zero risk of damage to the environment and near zero potential harm to the wildlife.

IMO regulations on handling methanol are well developed within the IGF Code and the Methyl/Ethyl Interim guidelines. Still to come could be rules for methanol bunkering and standards for fuel quality.

Class oversight is well established. ABS, a pioneer in this, will class the Maersk vessels, and its safety evaluation will include design considerations such as the need for cofferdams between fuel tanks and fire risk areas, double-barriers and sealing systems, ventilation and gas detection, explosion mitigation, and redundancy.

The Maersk newbuilds will require larger bore engines than current dual-fuel methanol LGIM installations, and MAN expects a further increase in engine size to be available soon. This will open up the market for other large, ocean-going vessels, and MAN is already seeing a lot of interest in retrofits.

Berit Hinnemann from Maersk talked about the partnership Maersk has entered into with the producers of Green Methanol to supply their methanol-powered fleet. Maersk will require 10,000 tonnes in the year 2023 and 500,000 tonnes by mid-2025.

Berit also mentioned that Maersk sees “methanol in combination with biodiesel for the pilot vessel as the only certain and scalable pathway towards significant impact this decade.”

These 16,000 TEU DF Maersk vessels are to be classed with ABS and will provide “20 percent improved energy efficiency per transported container”.

Mr. Vikrant Rai, took over the stage and presented the regulatory views on the subject. He also stressed upon the importance of port energy enhancements and ship energy enhancements.

The event was designed to address the needs of shipowners and operators, and moderated by Richard Clayton, Chief Correspondent at Lloyds List. Speakers, including the host and organiser Capt. Saleem Alavi, delved into the technical, commercial, and regulatory details.

Top industry experts spoke on the occasion including Berit Hinnemann, Head of De-Carbonization Business Development at Maersk; Ayca Yalcin, Director Market Development EMEA at Methanex; Chris Chatterton, Chief Operating Officer at the Methanol Institute; Fredrik Stubner, Chief Executive Officer, Green Marine Engineering; Kjeld Aabo, Director New Technology at MAN Energy Solutions; Rene Laursen, Manager of Global Gas Solutions at ABS; Vijay Arora, Managing Director Indian Register of Shipping; Vikrant Rai, Engineer & Ship Surveyor cum-Deputy DG(Tech), Mumbai.

Most of the nearly 400 event participants indicated that they had more confidence in methanol’s viability as a bunker fuel after hearing from the expert presenters.

The event organisers were Sea Commerce America Inc. and Institute of Marine Engineers of India’s Mumbai Branch and sponsored by Methanex, Canada and Methanol Institute, Singapore.

Photo credit: Sea Commerce America Inc.
Published: 20 May, 2022

Alternative Fuels

Singapore: MPA issues circular on resolutions adopted at IMO MSC 109

New circular informs shipping community of the resolutions, including on use of ammonia cargo as bunker fuel, and urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (17 March) issued Shipping Circular No. 2 of 2025 regarding resolutions adopted by the 109th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which was held from 2 to 6 December 2024:

This circular informs the shipping community of the resolutions adopted by MSC 109 and urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.

MSC 109 adopted the following mandatory resolutions:

Resolution MSC.566(109) – Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)

This resolution adopts amendments to Chapter 16 of the IGC Code, mainly to allow the use of ammonia cargo as fuel. The amendments will enter into force on 01 July 2026 and will be given effect through the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.

Resolution MSC.567(109) – Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)

This resolution adopts amendments to IGF Code regarding ship design and arrangements; general pipe design; safety functions of the gas supply system; fire protection; hazardous area zones; and ventilation requirements. The amendments will enter into force on 01 January 2028 and will be given effect through the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.

MSC 109 also adopted the following resolutions:

Resolution MSC.568(109) – Amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70))

This resolution adopts amendments to Part 1- Prototype Test for Life-saving Appliances, for self-righting test requirements of totally enclosed lifeboats, under paragraph 6.14.1.1 of the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)).

Resolution MSC.569(109) – Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital navigational data (NAVDAT) system

This resolution adopts the Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital NAVDAT system.

Resolution MSC.509(105)/REV.1 – Provision of radio services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

This resolution adopts the revised Recommendation on provision of radio services for the GMDSS, the Criteria for use when providing shore-based digital selective calling (DSC) facilities for use in the GMDSS, the Criteria for establishing GMDSS sea areas, the Criteria for use when providing a NAVTEX service and the Criteria for use when providing a NAVDAT service, set out in annexes 1 to 5, respectively, to the resolution. This resolution revokes resolution MSC.509(105).

Resolution MSC.570(109) – Performance standards for a universal shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS)

This resolution adopts the revised Performance standards for a universal shipborne AIS, recognising the need for measures to prevent unauthorised entry or tampering of the ship's identity information in shipborne AIS.

Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to MPA Shipping Division via email at [email protected].

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 18 March, 2025

Alternative Fuels

AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-based AAL Shipping says it held a naming ceremony for “AAL Dubai” – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – at CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou.

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Admin

AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-headquartered project heavy lift carrier AAL Shipping (AAL) on Thursday (13 March) said it held a formal naming ceremony for its fifth Super B-Class vessel, AAL Dubai.

The 32,000 dwt AAL Dubai – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – was officially named on March 12 at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China.

The AAL Dubai is engineered to transport a vast array of cargo, including heavy lift project equipment, breakbulk, and dry bulk, all on a single voyage. With a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, this vessel is designed to offer high efficiency, cargo flexibility, and economies of scale to shippers worldwide.

The vessel will now embark on its maiden voyage, joining sister vessels AAL Limassol, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston, and AAL Antwerp in serving project cargo customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.

“We are now over the halfway mark with our Super B-Class deliveries, and those already in service are exceeding our expectations,” said Liew Teck Liong, Chief Financial Officer at AAL.

“With these vessels, we have achieved both company and industry firsts, and we look forward to redefining what a heavy lift, multipurpose vessel can accomplish as we deploy them for complex cargo challenges.”

Later this year, AAL will take delivery of the AAL Dammam, which will be shortly followed by the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai that have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes.

Photo credit: AAL Shipping
Published: 18 March, 2025

LNG Bunkering

Titan completes first LNG and bio-LNG bunkering op to MOL under new term contract

Titan’s LNG bunkering vessel “Alice Cosulich” delivered 500 mt of bio-LNG and 400 mt of conventional LNG to vehicle carrier “Celeste Ace” during a SIMOPS bunkering in Port of Zeebrugge.

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Admin

Titan completes first LNG and bio-LNG bunkering op to MOL under new term contract

Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) on Monday (17 March) said it has completed the first LNG and liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) bunkering operation of a new multi-delivery contract for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ vehicle carrier fleet.

On 16 March, Titan’s Alice Cosulich LNG bunkering vessel delivered 500 metric tonnes (mt) of bio-LNG and 400 mt of conventional LNG to the Celeste Ace vehicle carrier. The simultaneous operation (SIMOPS) bunkering took place in the Port of Zeebrugge’s International Car Operators (ICO) terminal.

Titan’s delivery of ISCC-EU-certified mass-balanced bio-LNG marks the first of a series of bio-LNG deliveries to the Japanese shipping company. The bio-LNG was produced using waste and residue, which reduces GHG emissions by up to 100% compared to marine diesel on a well-to-wake basis. LNG, bio-LNG, and renewable hydrogen-derived e-methane can be blended at any ratio and ‘dropped into’ existing LNG bunkering infrastructure with little to no modification.

Caspar Gooren, Commercial Director of Renewable Fuels at Titan, said: “This bunkering highlights the growing role of bio-LNG in decarbonizing international shipping today. With bio-LNG availability expanding, its deep decarbonization potential, and increasing commercial viability, the LNG pathway offers practical solutions for shipowners and operators. Moreover, with a global maritime leader like MOL putting its commercial weight behind bio-LNG, this is an exciting time for the clean fuels transition.”

Yoshikazu Urushitani, Marine Fuel GX Division General Manager at MOL, said: “We are exploring the use of ammonia and hydrogen fuels as part of our strategy to adopt clean alternative fuels, while moving to expand the use of LNG-fueled vessels and more quickly achieve a low-carbon society. We will also be early adopters of bio-LNG and synthetic LNG. Partnering with Titan, we will start using bio-LNG to lead the shipping industry in the transition to clean alternative fuels. We remain committed to adopting clean fuels to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050.”

MOL currently operates five LNG-fuelled vehicle carriers and will have six more delivered by the middle of 2025.

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 18 March, 2025