Singapore, the most important bunkering port globally, is making ready for a multi-fuel future that features methanol. [Photo:DNV]
As Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering port, prepares for a multi-fuel future, DNV has joined a working group on methanol bunkering, managed by the Standards Development Organization on the Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC-SDO). The multi-stakeholder working group will develop a Technical Reference (TR) for methanol bunkering .
The TR will cowl custody switch necessities (amount and high quality) for the supply of methanol as a bunker gas. It will study all features of bunkering, from the bunker tanker to the receiving vessels, inspecting the operational and security necessities for methanol bunkering, in addition to crew coaching and competency.
“Initiatives like the Working Group established by SCIC-SDO, are essential as the energy transition accelerates, and the maritime industry moves towards a multi-fuel future,” mentioned Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, regional supervisor South East Asia, Pacific & India at DNV Maritime. “For methanol and other alternative fuels to continue to build traction within shipping, we need to build confidence and encourage a wider uptake. This can only be accomplished through standards that enhance safety while providing a comprehensive and practical framework for all stakeholders. At DNV we have been working with our customers for many years on alternative fuels to enhance the sustainability of their operations and are very proud to be included in the Standards Working Group.”
METHANOL GAINING GROUND ON LNG
The announcement of the event of the TR comes alongside record-breaking orders for vessels able to utilizing different fuels. Underscoring the rising curiosity in methanol as a marine gas, DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, which tracks orders and bunkering places for different fuels, logged orders for 35 methanol-fuelled vessels in 2022 – greater than the 26 vessels at present in operation. Likewise for LNG, the preferred different gas up to now, the newbuilding orders in 2021 and 2022 will greater than double the fleet in service upon supply.
“Interest in methanol is growing rapidly, gaining ground on the most widely adopted alternative option LNG,” mentioned Lukasz Luwanski, regional enterprise improvement director at DNV Maritime. “Designs for methanol-fuelled vessels tend to be less complex, which means construction is typically less expensive than a comparable LNG fueled vessel. On the other hand, due to incoming GHG regulations, a switch to ‘green’ methanol will be required much sooner than for a vessel that is LNG powered. This will make the Working Group’s TR a very timely and important reference point for the industry.”
DNV notes that it was the primary classification society to launch a notation masking all features of utilizing low flashpoint fuels, together with protected design, fireplace security, management and monitoring. It has repeatedly constructed on these suggestions, together with the Alternative Fuels for Containerships doc, which was not too long ago up to date with a brand new chapter masking methanol and goals to offer impartial, fact-based, and scientifically sound resolution help for newbuilding tasks within the section.
