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Wartsila: Methanol as marine fuel – is it the solution you are looking for?

Publishes comprehensive Insight article to help ship owners and operators navigate the advantages and issues of using the product as a marine fuel.

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NYK methanol bunkering at Rotterdam port on 21 July 2021

Technology group Wärtsilä on Monday (20 February) published the Insight article “Methanol as marine fuel – is it the solution you are looking for?” to help ship owners and operators navigate the advantages and issues of using the product as a marine fuel. An excerpt of the article is as follows:

What is methanol?

Methanol (methyl alcohol, CH3OH or MeOH) is a biodegradable wood alcohol used to make everything from plastics to paints and pharmaceuticals. Although it is toxic and highly flammable, it dissolves in water and biodegrades quickly. Methanol has been used in industrial applications for over 100 years, but it’s now also showing great promise as a clean and sustainable future fuel for maritime applications.

What types of methanol are there?

Broadly speaking, methanol can be categorised into fossil-based methanol and renewable methanol. Fossil-based methanol is produced from coal or natural gas. Renewable methanol can be made from things like biomass or captured CO2 combined with green hydrogen.

What colour is methanol?

  • Methanol is a colourless liquid, but colour names are used to show what it’s made from:
  • Green methanol is made from biomass or captured CO2 and green hydrogen
  • Blue methanol is made using blue hydrogen in combination with carbon capture technology
  • Grey methanol is produced using natural gas
  • Brown methanol is produced using coal.

Green methanol is the most environmentally sustainable. Blue methanol still significantly reduces well-to-tank CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels like diesel. One of the biggest challenges for maritime decarbonisation is that most methanol today is either grey or brown. All types of methanol could lead to a tank-to-wake CO2 reduction of about 7% compared to diesel. However, if we take the well-to-wake approach (from production to utilisation), the CO2 impact of grey and brown methanol is worse than that of diesel. This is why green and blue methanol are the only real alternatives when targeting well-to-tank GHG reduction.

Is methanol as fuel good for the environment?

The main benefit of green methanol is that it produces less CO2 than diesel combustion, as well as lower SOx and NOx emissions. The amount you can reduce emissions by will depend on the load your engines are running at. Studies have shown that, taking a tank-to-wake approach, by using methanol instead of heavy fuel oil (HFO):

  • CO2 emissions can be cut by 7%
  • SOx emissions can be cut by 99%, and
  • NOx emissions can be cut by 60%.

Methanol also biodegrades rapidly in water, which also makes it less of a risk to the environment than many alternatives.

Is methanol as marine fuel bad for the environment?

The CO2 footprint of methanol varies according to how it’s produced and transported, with fossil-based methanol generating more lifetime CO2 emissions than diesel. This makes green methanol the right choice for decarbonisation. Since the methanol molecule is the same whether it is grey, brown, blue or green, blending methanol is also a viable option to support the transition from conventional to renewable marine fuels.

How can methanol help with decarbonisation in shipping and the maritime energy transition?

The methanol molecule – CH3OH – is the same whether it is produced from grey, brown, blue or green feedstocks. This means you can blend it to help you transition gradually towards using a greater percentage of sustainable green methanol.

Is methanol expensive?

Compared to diesel operation, fuel expenses can be up to 15 times higher depending on the type of methanol consumed, its price and the share of energy provided by methanol. Although fuel expenses are higher with methanol than with diesel, this should be considered in terms of today’s regulatory environment. Vessels that fail to meet CII and EEXI targets will not be allowed to operate any longer. So the extra cost of the fuel should be compared not only with today's fossil fuel price but with the cost of a brand new and more efficient ship and with the possible losses due to a mandatory stop of operations.

The Powerzeek Energy Platform has added methanol to its online marketplace in response to increased enquiries from shipowners. Powerzeek makes it easier for shipowners and trucking companies to find and buy cleaner fuels at the best available price.

Is methanol safe onboard ships?

From the perspective of onboard safety, there are well-established rules and regulations pertaining to the use of methanol as a marine fuel in the form of the IMO’s MSC.1-Circ.1621 – Interim Guidelines For The Safety Of Ships Using Methyl/Ethyl Alcohol As Fuel. Additionally, Wärtsilä has developed a safety concept for methanol engines that acts as an internal design guideline for all marine projects that involve using methanol as a fuel.

Where can I buy methanol as fuel for ships?

If you’re looking for methanol suppliers for ships, in 2020 the Methanol Institute confirmed that methanol was available at about 100 ports around the world.

Maritime-dedicated infrastructure for methanol transportation is still in the early stages of development but is expanding all the time.

Note: The full Insight article “Methanol as marine fuel – is it the solution you are looking for?” is available at Wartsila’s website here

 

Photo credit: NYK, Waterfront Shipping, Vopak, TankMatch
Published: 28 February, 2023

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Biofuel

GoodFuels ceases bio bunker fuel deliveries in Singapore after near three-year run

‘Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,’ says Jing Xieng Han.

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Biofuel supplier GoodFuels, FincoEnergies’ sustainable fuels brand, has stopped all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect, according to Jing Xieng Han, General Manager of GoodFuels Asia Pacific, on Wednesday (6 November). 

GoodFuels first announced the opening of its first office in Singapore in February 2022. The Singapore office was GoodFuels’ second office and its first outside of Europe. 

At the time, GoodFuels said Singapore was chosen as the target for its first international expansion because of its importance to the global shipping industry and its leading position as a key bunkering hub, with mature bunkering infrastructure that will support the delivery of marine biofuel.

Jing said FincoEnergies has decided to consolidate GoodFuels operations in the Asia Pacific and ARA regions. 

“Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,” she said in a social media post. 

“Our Amsterdam team remains dedicated to furthering the decarbonization of global shipping 'the Good Way' and I wish them continued success.”

Jing also announced that she will be departing GoodFuels Asia Pacific, effective 6 November as well. 

“It has been a privilege to contribute to the integration of biofuels into the bunkering sector in Singapore over the past three years,” she said.

“The rapid evolution of the industry has been mind-blowing, and I fondly recall addressing numerous queries on the technical feasibilities of biofuels as bunker fuels when I first launched our Singapore office in early 2022.”

Related: GoodFuels opens first Singapore office to meet growing biofuel demand

 

Photo credit: GoodFuels
Published: 7 November, 2024

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

CPN supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for “YM WITNESS”, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Wednesday (6 November) completed the supply of 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for YM WITNESS, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October. 

“This also embarks on CPN’s new journey to arrange supplying marine biofuel in Singapore,” the firm said in a social media post. 

B24 marine biofuel is a blend of 24% B100 biodiesel and Marine Fuel Oil, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and lowers its carbon footprint. Such product aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduces environmental impact. 

“CPN is committed to be the frontrunner in the transition towards more sustainable marine fuel options. This biofuel delivery reinforces CPN’s commitment to realizing eco-friendly port energy solutions and global decarbonisation goals,” it added. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 November, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

Titan supplied newly built PCTC “Peony Leader” using bunkering vessel “Optimus”, marking the PCTC’s maiden LNG bunkering operation.

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Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan on Wednesday (6 November) said it has completed a LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Zeebrugge. 

Titan supplied the newly built Peony Leader Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) using Optimus – one of its LNG bunkering vessels (LBV).

“This was the maiden voyage for the Peony Leader, as well as the first time it bunkered LNG while in service. The Optimus’ crew closely supported throughout the process, providing guidance and information to the seafarers onboard the vehicle carrier,” it said in a social media post. 

“Our commercial team also visited CSP Zeebrugge to meet the new client, Chimbusco. With a greatly increasing number of PCTC newbuilds being LNG dual-fuelled, we look forward to many more successful LNG bunkering operations with Chimbusco and other shipowners in this segment.”

 

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 7 November, 2024

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