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Thu 17 Nov 2016 08:18

Methanol-powered ship delivered in Japan


Vessel will be on long-term time charter to Methanex-owned Waterfront Shipping.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced the delivery of the dual-fuelled methanol carrier Cajun Sun at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Oita, Japan, on 10th November.

The 50,000-deadweight-tonne (dwt) Caju Sun is the third in the 'eco ship' series of ships equipped with a two-stroke dual-fuelled low-revolution main engine - the MAN B&W ME-LGI engine - which is capable of running on methanol, fuel oil, marine diesel oil, or marine gas oil.

The ship includes fuel-saving accessories in front of and astern of the propellers, and is also equipped with a ballast water treatment system - ahead of treaty requirements mandating such systems.

The Cajun Sun will be on long-term time charter to Vancouver-based Waterfront Shipping Company Ltd, which operates the world's largest methanol ocean tanker fleet and specializes in the transportation of bulk chemicals and clean petroleum products. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Methanex Corporation - the world's largest producer and supplier of methanol.

Earlier this year, in April, Bunker Index reported that Waterfront planned to charter seven methanol-fuelled vessels between April and October in order to replace older vessels and expand its fleet.

Two of the vessels are owned by Westfal-Larsen Shipping (WL), two ships are jointly owned by Marinvest and Waterfront Shipping, and the remaining three are owned by MOL, one of which is the Cajun Sun. The seven 50,000-dwt ships were built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

"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," Jone Hognestad, President, Waterfront Shipping, said in April.

Image: The Mari Jone is one of seven methanol-powered ships chartered by Waterfront in 2016.

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