A green light for the adoption of methanol as a sustainable marine fuel has been given by the Sustainable Marine Methanol (SUMMETH) project.
The research concluded that there are no obstacles to the efficient use of methanol in a converted diesel engine and that smaller vessel conversion projects are feasible and cost-effective, with levels of safety that easily meet existing requirements.
SUMMETH is an effort supported by the MARTEC II network and co-funded by the Swedish Maritime Administration, Region Vastra Gotaland, Oiltanking and the Methanol Institute.
Dr Joanne Ellis, Project Manager for SSPA, which led the research says the partners sought to build on the work already done in earlier research projects that resulted in the Stena Lines and Waterfront Shipping methanol dual-fuel vessels, using a vessel type that could use methanol in a converted single-fuel engine.
“The work on Stena Germanica and the Waterfront Shipping vessels proved the dual fuel concept in larger vessels; we wanted to understand whether conversion of a smaller engine was feasible,” she says.
“We looked at a road ferry with an engine capacity of about 350 kW which makes short trips between the mainland and the island of Ljusterö in the Stockholm archipelago, carrying people as well as cars, where there was a real desire to improve the emissions profile.”
Dr Ellis adds that as biomethanol increasingly becomes available, vessel operators will have the opportunity to blend in this zero-carbon fuel and progressively meet emission reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
“The Swedish government has recently asked the country’s Transport Administration to investigate making all of its ferries, pilot boats, icebreakers and workboats fossil-free by either 2030 or 2045, something that could make biomethanol increasingly attractive,” she notes.
“Sweden has the potential to satisfy required demand for the biomethanol, which can be produced from renewable feedstock such as pulp mill waste, and there are several initiatives underway investigating the production of sustainable methanol.”
Topic areas of the project’s final reports include the technical feasibility of converting vessels to propulsion using methanol, the resulting environmental performance, bunkering issues and fuel supply now and in the future.
The research programme was conducted by SSPA, ScandiNAOS, Marine Benchmark, Lund University, the Swedish Transport Administration Road Ferries, Scania, SMTF and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
A copy of the SUMMETH report can be downloaded here.
Photo credit: Truls Persson
Published: 31 May, 2018
System is designed to offer a space saving solution for smaller LNG-fuelled vessels that have limited room onboard; supports decarbonisation goals of maritime industry.
‘More research is required to understand the best options (fuel or energy carrier) for individual industrial applications’, says Executive Vice President in SINTEF.
BioMSAR® offers similar CO2 emissions reductions as using LNG while using existing low-cost HFO infrastructure, and does not contain methane, it said.
A carbon free maritime sector by 2050 may seem a very long way from here, but big liner operators are already starting to make plans well in advance.
A number of LNG-fuelled container vessels and tankers have confirmed their term bunkering plans from Singapore; sector poised for sharp growth with delivery of FueLNG Bellina, says General Manager.
R&D and signing of the project are steps taken by COSCO Shipping to implement green development strategies of China’s “14th Five-Year Plan”, says Deputy GM.
Buyers can nominate deliveries on platform and plan operations together with suppliers following ‘one single truth’ concept with all players aware of what has been agreed when and by whom, says DNV spokesman.
Rotterdam’s intention to mandate the usage of MFMs goes down well with licensed bunker supplier VT Group; MFM providers supportive of move but stressed continuous monitoring is needed for optimum performance.
Cost of alternative bunker fuels, bunker operations and technology advancement are some considerations to be examined by the maritime industry, says Neo, director of SDE International Pte Ltd.
Kim Hyung Joon and Han Donghoon were planning to join the Singapore entities of Hartree Group - either Hartree Partners Singapore Pte Ltd or Hartree Marine Fuels - in October, discovered management.
‘When you think of Helmsman on the next occasion, think of us as lawyers with expertise in various fields. Come to us before a problem develops. It’s the process that matters,’ says Tang Chong Jun, Executive Director.
Bernard Chew was a former shareholder of MB Marine and was an authorised signatory of the company’s cheques at the material time, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
