Methanol News

The International Organization for Standardization has launched the first edition of ISO 6583:2024 – a new standard for methanol as a marine fuel.The document was prepared in cooperation with shipowners, ship operators, national standards bodies, classification societies, fuel testing services, engine and fuel cell designers, marine fuel suppliers, methanol producers, governmental organizations and other technical organizations to meet the requirements for methanol supplied as…

The container ship Maersk Halifax has been converted into a dual-fuel vessel able to operate on methanol. The industry-first retrofit for a large container ship was conducted at the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China over 88 days with completion at the end of October 2024.Maersk Halifax, which is one of 11 vessels in Maersk’s Hong Kong-class, departed anchorage at the yard on 4 November 2024.The vessel has returned to operation and is now servicing our customers on the Trans-Pacific trade.The engine conversion was done by MAN Energy Solutions.

e1Marine and STAX Engineering have announced a collaborative partnership to advance emissions capture and control technology for ocean-going vessels.The collaboration combines e1Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen power systems (M2PWR) with STAX’s emissions capture and control technology.e1Marine will install its M2PWR onto STAX’s barges. The system will supplement their onboard power needs to demonstrate that emissions capture and control for maritime vessels can be safe, effective and sustainable.STAX already offers CARB-compliant capture and control technology for some vessel classes.

Danish shipping group A.P.

Danish shipping group A.P. Moller - Maersk has entered into a long-term bio-methanol offtake agreement with LONGi Green Energy Technology for its dual-fuel methanol vessels.The agreement will contribute to lowering GHG emissions from Maersk’s growing fleet of dual-fuel methanol container vessels. LONGi will deliver bio-methanol produced at a facility in Xu Chang, Central China.With the addition of the LONGi volumes, Maersk is making progress in securing enough methanol for its owned dual-fuel methanol fleet of which seven vessels are already in operation.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery (HHI-EMD) has signed a contract with China Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company and Taiwan’s Evergreen Line to supply 18 methanol dual-fuel HiMSEN engines (7H22CDF-LM) for six 2,400 TEU container ships.HHI-EMD has successfully introduced the eco-friendly methanol HiMSEN engine H32DF-LM (3,000~4,500kW) for ultra-large container ships, with a total of 352 engines ordered and manufactured to date.Following this, the newly developed H22CDF-LM (1…

Singapore-based liner company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has released its Sustainability Report 2024 which indicates that it has achieved a 62% reduction in Scope 1 emissions intensity in FY2023 from a 2008 baseline.These efforts have yielded a 21% reduction in emissions intensity from 2018 to 2023.ONE has also received approval in principle for an ammonia dual vessel along with an investment in 12 13,000 TEU methanol dual-fueled vessels. The newly constructed container ships are slated for delivery in 2027.

A.P. Moller - Maersk on Wednesday held a naming ceremony in the U.K.'s Port of Felixstowe for its latest dual-fuel methanol container vessel, Alexandra Maersk.The newbuild is the the sixth vessel in Maersk’s owned fleet that is capable of running on methanol fuel in its main and auxiliary engines, and the fifth ship in Maersk's series of 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025—each with more than 16,000 TEU capacity.The new ship Alexandra Maersk is named after Alexandra Mærsk-Møller (1868-1953) who was an older sister of Mr. A.P. Møller, the founder of A.P.

New standards for bunkering methanol and ammonia will be developed by 2024 and 2025 respectively, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday.The world's largest vessel refueling hub is preparing for higher uptake of alternative bunker fuels, which shippers are considering using to help lower carbon emissions."The standards will cover custody transfer requirements, safety procedures and crew competencies, to ensure safe bunkering operations and handling of these fuels," MPA said in a statement issued during SIBCON 2024.There are currently no detailed standards or estab

Marine towage provider Svitzer announced it has inked a deal Turkish shipbuilder Uzmar to build a world-first battery-methanol tug for scheduled delivery in the second half of 2025.Designed in collaboration with naval architect Robert Allan Ltd, the first-of-its-kind tug will be based on Svitzer’s TRAnsverse tug design and feature a 6MWh battery supported by dual fuel methanol engines for back-up and range extension.The 34.9-meter escort duty tug is expected to conduct more than…

Finland-based Valmet has been selected CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China to deliver automation solutions for methanol fuel conversion projects aboard two CMA 9300SHI container ships.The vessels will be upgraded at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China for the French operator CMA CGM.The delivery includes applying a methanol control system and a methanol safety system.The order, whose value has not been disclosed, was included in Valmet’s orders received of the second quarter 2024.“This is Valmet’s first automation retrofit order in the Chinese marine market.

The Alette Maersk was the first container vessel powered by low-carbon methanol fuel to cross the Pacific Ocean - a milestone in the shipping industry's effort to reduce its climate impact.But when the 1,148-foot (350-meter) vessel arrived at the Port of Los Angeles from China last week, there was nowhere in the U.S. to buy more of the green fuel, forcing it to rely heavily on petroleum-based maritime fuel for the return trip.At a day-long ship naming event on Tuesday, A.P. Moller…

Fugro has completed the primary phase in its first vessel conversion to green methanol fuel.The Fugro Pioneer is ready to be equipped with methanol engines after successfully converting the main components on board.The now-completed vessel adjustments to the Fugro Pioneer allow two of its four original engines to be replaced by methanol engines, ensuring services can still be offered in regions where green methanol is not yet available. The delivery and installation of the methanol capable engines are expected in the second half of 2024.

The Methanol Institute (MI) has been granted consultative status by the IMO.Consultative status is reserved for non-governmental, international organizations that have the capability to make a substantial contribution to the work of IMO. MI will now be able to attend meetings as an observer and offer expert input on discussions in plenary and working groups.MI aims to use its consultative status to work more closely with member countries to establish robust regulatory frameworks for low-carbon shipping fuels…

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers is timer chartering a methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier after reaching an agreement with Kambara Kisen.The 65,700dwt vessel is currently under construction at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and is scheduled for delivery in spring 2025. This ship will be the first methanol-fueled bulk carrier operated by the NYK Group.The ultramax vessel’s primary fuels are expected to be bio-methanol and e-methanol as it transports various cargoes including grain and ore.

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) is in the process of signing newbuilding orders and time-charter contracts for LNG dual-fuel container ships.The new orders for 50-60 vessels will match its planned renewal pace of around 160,000 TEU per year.The new orders are a continuation of its fleet renewal program initiated in 2021 which has seen orders placed for 25 methanol dual-fuel vessels, five in service and 20 on order providing around 350,000 TEU of dual-fuel capacity.The exact split…

MAN PrimeServ – the after-sales brand of MAN Energy Solutions – will offer a retrofit package for the conversion of existing conventional MAN four-stroke engines to dual-fuel methanol operation starting in 2025. Customers will initially be able to convert existing MAN 48/60 engines to the latest MAN 51/60DF engine type with methanol capability.According to MAN Energy Solutions, the conversion package has been under development for some time and has been tested at its Augsburg, Germany plant since summer 2024.

TFG Marine, the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, has announced the signing of a long-term time charter agreement with Singapore-headquartered Consort Bunkers for four newbuild methanol carriage-ready bunker tankers.The 6,500-dwt IMO type 2 tankers are being constructed by Merchants Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, China, and will be operated by Consort Bunkers for TFG Marine. Deliveries will commence in late 2024 and continue into 2025.The vessels will be capable of carrying TFG Marine's current range of marine fuels…

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has published a technical, environmental, and techno-economic analysis of the impacts of preparation and conversion of tankers for green fuels.Using insights from project partners, the project aimed to understand the technical requirements and cost of converting from fuel oil to methanol or ammonia and from NG to ammonia.The report considered reference designs for two types of tanker vessels: LR2 and VLCC. These vessel types are two of the largest in the tanker segment…

Denmark-based Blue World Technologies has completed the testing of the world’s first 200 kW high-temperature PEM fuel cell module, exceeding performance expectation of the system which aims to contribute to the decarbonization of the maritime industry.The test was completed at the newly established test facilities in connection to the Blue Aalborg Factory, where the fuel cells for the system are produced. The initial testing has been completed with great results which has exceeded performance expectations…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has received orders from Toyofuji Shipping and Fukuju Shipping for Japan's first methanol-fueled roros.The two ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with scheduled completion and delivery by the end of fiscal 2027.The ships will be approximately 169.9 meters in overall length and 30.2 meters in breadth, with 15,750 gross tonnage, and loading capacity for around 2,300 passenger vehicles.A windscreen at the bow and a vertical stem are used to reduce propulsion resistance…

SRC Group and Green Marine signed a collaborative agreement to develop and deliver Methanol Superstorage to market.The cooperation aims to realize benefits available to SRC’s Methanol Superstorage solution. Using the SPS Technology Sandwich Plate System instead of traditional cofferdams that separate tank walls, Methanol Superstorage boosts shipboard tank volumes by 85% and provides effective mitigation for methanol’s significantly lower energy density than conventional HFO.Green Marine delivers methanol transition solutions for all ship segments…

Auramarine has won an order from Meyer Turku shipyard for a methanol fuel supply system and associated equipment for the luxury Mein Schiff 7 cruise vessel owned by TUI Cruises.Auramarine’s equipment deliveries began in 2023 and continued over the spring of 2024. Sea trials were conducted in May 2024, and the vessel is scheduled for delivery over the summer this year. The methanol-ready newbuild is the first of its kind in the maritime industry and aligns with TUI Cruises’ sustainability strategy of offering the first climate-neutral cruises by 2030.