Proman Stena Bulk starts steel cutting for methanol-fuelled tanker

Stena Pro Patria will be the first of the three methanol vessels to be built by the joint venture between Sweden-based Stena Bulk and Switzerland-based Proman Shipping.

Steel cutting for Stena Pro Patria, which started 7 January 2021, is taking place at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China and marks the operational beginning of Stena Bulk and Proman’s journey together as a joint venture. This partnership includes the construction of two additional vessels: Stena ProMare and Stena Prosperous.

As a new methanol-ready 49,900-dwt tanker, Stena Pro Patria will benefit from several design and technical improvements to optimise energy and fuel efficiency. Additionally, the vessel’s latest generation MAN dual-fuel engines will also feature revolutionary new water and fuel emulsion technologies to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Stena Pro Patria will use approximately 12,500 tonnes of methanol as fuel per year, which will significantly reduce the volume of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the vessel’s commercial operations, especially compared with using conventional marine fuels.

Stena Bulk president and chief executive Erik Hånell said “The steel cutting for Stena Pro Patria is the first step in a series of projects that will further strengthen Stena’s commitment to sustainability excellence and with spearheading shipping’s fuel innovation and wider decarbonisation journey. We’re proud to embrace a partnership approach through our successful joint venture with Proman, to bring their exceptional latest innovations and dedicated expertise in the methanol field together with our progressive vision for minimal environmental impact.”

Proman Shipping managing director Anita Gajadhar added “This steel cutting ceremony represents an important milestone for the Proman Stena Bulk partnership, marking the beginning of construction and day one in the life of the Stena Pro Patria, our first vessel together. We are very excited to begin this enterprise with Stena Bulk, with whom we are proud to share a sense of purpose as well as a commitment to continued innovation in the shipping industry. Today brings us another step closer towards reaping the benefits of methanol as a future-proof marine fuel and, in doing so, driving the transition towards more sustainable shipping worldwide.”

The Stena Pro Patria steel cutting represents another milestone in Stena Bulk’s long-standing relationship with Guangzhou Shipyard International – the shipyard which has previously built other Stena Bulk IMOIIMAXes.

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