Methanol continues to make new inroads into the marine gas market. Yesterday, it was the majority service phase the place methanol fueling was within the information. Today, it’s cruising. Costa Group, a part of Carnival Corporation and a number one European cruise operator with its two manufacturers Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, has signed an MOU with one of many world’s main methanol producers, Proman.
The MOU goals to push ahead the implementation of methanol as a marine gas by the cruise trade, by enhancing the provision of sustainable methanol, paving the way in which for the retrofitting of present vessels to function on clear gas, in addition to funding in additional methanol-fueled newbuilds.
The MOU reaffirms methanol’s potential to play a key function within the ongoing discount of GHG emissions of the cruise sector and different delivery segments. Costa and Proman say that it’s a cleaner-burning gas which just about eliminates airborne pollution equivalent to particulate matter and sulfur oxides and is extensively out there and more and more produced through lower-carbon, biogenic or hydrogen-based pathways. When utilized in gas cells, methanol has the potential to permit for lifecycle zero emissions within the close to future.
Methanol is rising as a number one various gas to fulfill GHG discount objectives attributable to its easy-to-handle properties, making it engaging for each new builds and for refitting present ships. As one of the extensively traded chemical commodities, the infrastructure for ship provide might be tailored from present infrastructure. All types of methanol, whether or not natural-gas primarily based, low-carbon or renewable, could be blended no matter manufacturing pathways. It subsequently permits a dependable transition pathway from right now to totally GHG impartial cruise ships in close to future.
“The technology to retrofit a vessel to accept methanol as a fuel is available today,” stated Tim Cornelius, Proman’s managing director of company growth. “Our methanol products can facilitate the transition to low carbon intensity fuels. Methanol-powered vessels have a proven track record of reducing and eliminating major greenhouse gas emissions, delivering immediate air quality improvements around major ports and shipping lanes. We are excited to bring our expertise along the full methanol value chain to help deliver on Costa Group’s bold ambitions.”
METHANOL FUELING FOR CRUISE SHIPS
Costa Group has a historical past of steadily pioneering superior applied sciences on board its new and present ships. The firm was the primary to introduce liquefied pure fuel (LNG) propulsion for emission discount with 4 ships already in service within the Costa Group fleet. The majority of Costa Group ships are geared up with shore energy capabilities to be zero emissions in ports the place the know-how is obtainable, and the corporate has additionally carried out its first exams on biofuels.
“We are reducing the carbon footprint of our fleet while at port and at sea, investing in advanced environmental technologies and partnering with companies such as Proman who share a passion for sustainable energy transition,” stated – stated Dr. Christoph Schladoer, VP decarbonization at Costa Group. “By enabling cruise ships to use methanol as a propulsion fuel, Costa follows the ambition to take the next big step towards GHG neutral operations of our fleet by 2050.”
