Sign up
Log in Sign up
Thu 17 Nov 2016, 08:18 GMT

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.

Dual-fuel   Methanol   MGO   MOL   Newbuild   Vessel delivery  
Areion vessel. Dorian LPG takes delivery of dual-fuel VLGC capable of carrying ammonia  

The 93,000-cbm Areion can run on LPG or fuel oil and transport ammonia cargoes.
FSRU Toscana alongside Green Zeebrugge vessel. RINA awards ISCC EU certification to OLT Offshore LNG Toscana for bio-LNG supply  

Certification enables bio-LNG use in the EU as a renewable fuel under RED II and RED III directives.
World Shipping Council at IMO meeting. WSC calls for safe maritime corridor as 20,000 seafarers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf  

Industry body urges IMO member states to establish safe passage and supply access.
Graphic promoting Auramarine webinar titled 'Sustainable Fueling Part 3: Ammonia - next alternative fuel in marine'. Auramarine to host webinar on ammonia as marine fuel in April  

Finnish firm will explore ammonia’s role in maritime decarbonisation at its third spring webinar.
Front cover of study by WinGD and Envision Energy titled 'Renewable Fuel Economics: An OPEX illustration based on current costs'. Green ammonia could reach cost parity with VLSFO and LNG by 2050, study finds  

WinGD and Envision Energy study projects green ammonia operational costs competitive with conventional marine fuels.
Elenger Marine's LNG bunkering vessel Optimus alongside Brittany Ferries’ Saint-Malo. Bureau Veritas verifies methane emissions on Brittany Ferries’ LNG vessels  

Verification enables ferry operator to report measured methane slip instead of regulatory default values.
Map showing existing and planned Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Alliance calls for urgent black carbon action as new Arctic emission control areas take effect  

Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea ECAs now in force, with compliance deadline set for March 2027.
Artistic impression of battery-electric ferry for operation on Perth’s Swan River. Lloyd’s Register to class Western Australia’s first electric ferry fleet  

Echo Marine Group partners with Lloyd’s Register on five battery-electric ferries for Perth’s Swan River.
Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). ICS condemns Middle East shipping attacks as 20,000 seafarers remain trapped  

Industry body calls for urgent state action to resupply vessels and enable crew changes.
Molslinjen ferry illustration. Molslinjen order propels Australia to top of battery vessel production rankings  

Danish ferry operator’s three-catamaran order at Incat Tasmania shifts global manufacturing landscape, analysis shows.




 Recommended