ABS: methanol a "compelling alternative pathway" for shipowners in fuels transition

In November 2020, IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee approved interim guidelines for the use of methyl and ethyl alcohol on ships, boosting the fuel’s commercial prospects.

Since then, the orderbook continues to grow, and now contains more than 80 methanol dual-fuel-powered vessels and while dominated by the tanker segment, extends across nearly all vessel types. As Tanker Shipping & Trade noted last week, one of the newest orders is for a coastal tanker. 

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines, which is already running dual-fuel methanol tankers, is pioneering its use in the coastal trades. Liner shipping giant Maersk has committed to building nearly 20 methanol-fuelled vessels with the first scheduled for delivery Q1 2024 and there are initiatives in the passenger ship segment.

Last week, Rolls-Royce announced its participation in a joint project involving manufacturer Woodward L’Orange and research institute Wissenschaftlich-Technisches Zentrum Roßlau that will look to develop a concept for a high-speed internal combustion engine for ships that can run on ‘green’ methanol.

ABS vice president for global sustainability, Panos Koutsourakis concluded, “Methanol is increasingly being recognised as a compelling alternative pathway for owners and operators. With practical benefits related to its ease of storage and handling, tank-to-wake carbon intensity reduction, as well as a pathway to carbon neutrality through green methanol, methanol presents an immediate and promising solution.” 

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