The first ocean-going vessels able to operating on methanol gasoline are being ready for supply later this month. 

The seven 50,000 DWT tankers are constructed with the first-of-its sort MAN B&W ME-LGI 2-stroke twin gasoline engines that may run on methanol, gasoline oil, marine diesel oil, or fuel oil.

Methanol is seen as a clean-burning gasoline thought-about to be a viable various to the business’s more and more stringent emissions laws. It is a biodegradable marine gasoline that reduces smog-causing emissions comparable to particulates, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides.

Partners within the venture for the seven vessels embrace Waterfront Shipping Company Ltd. (WFS), Mitsui O.S.Okay. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), Westfal-Larsen Management (WL), and Marinvest/Skagerack Invest (Marinvest)

“Working with our partners to advance new, clean technology is an important and innovative step in the right direction. Investing in methanol-based marine fuel reinforces our commitment to invest in sustainable technology that not only provides environmental benefits but also an economically viable alternative marine fuel. The cost to build new and convert existing vessels to run on methanol is significantly less than alternate fuel conversions,” acknowledged Jone Hognestad, President, Waterfront Shipping.

Waterfront Shipping, which operates the world’s largest methanol ocean tanker fleet, will constitution the seven vessels to switch older vessels and broaden its fleet. Two of the vessels are owned by WL, two are collectively owned by Marinvest and WFS, and the remaining three vessels are owned by MOL. The ships have been constructed by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The first three vessels are being delivered in April, with the remaining 4 to be delivered by October 2016.

“MAN developed these 2-stroke engines in response to interest from the shipping world to operate on alternatives to heavy fuel oil and meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations. To hedge the risk of fuel price volatility, the vessels can switch between fuels, and operate cost-effectively,” mentioned Ole Grøne Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing and Sales, MAN Diesel & Turbo.

The ship naming ceremony for 2 of the twin vessel vessels, owned by WL with the second as a three way partnership with WFS/Marinvest, will happen in South Korea on April 18, with official supply on April 20 and 28. (Update: The first vessel, named Lindanger, was delivered April 21, 2016 at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard). 

“This investment is very much aligned with our vision and leadership to supply safe and environmentally friendly transports. The ability to run on a sulphur-free fuel offers great potential and provides innovative solutions for the world’s energy needs,” mentioned Patrik Mossberg, Chairman, Marinvest.

“To be one of the shipping companies helping to lead this effort makes sense for our business. It’s great to be part of an innovative solution,” added Rolf Westfal-Larsen, President and CEO, Westfal-Larsen Management.

MOL will take supply of its dual-fuel vessel in Japan on April 22. “We are excited and proud of the delivery of our first vessel, installed with the first dual-fuel engine in Japan. We are pleased that our technical expertise has been utilized for this commemorative occasion. Having these vessels operating on methanol marine fuel provides shippers and port facilities with a practical and diversified fuel solution that meets today’s and tomorrow’s emission requirements”, states Yoshikazu Kawagoe, Managing Executive Officer (Technical), Mitsui O.S.Okay. Lines, Ltd.

The Stena Line ferry Stena Germanica is at present the one business ship on the earth that makes use of methanol as its essential gasoline. The ship returned to service in March 2015 after having been transformed on the Remontowa Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland. The ferry operates between Kiel, Germany and Gothenburg, Sweden.