Proman Stena Bulk takes delivery of first methanol-powered tanker

Proman Stena Bulk claims that methanol is readily available to bunker in over 100 global ports, including major bunkering hubs.

PHOTO: Proman Stena Bulk's methanol-powered vessel Stena Pro Patria. Proman Stena Bulk

Proman Stena Bulk expects the 49,990 dwt tanker vessel Stena Pro Patria to bunker 12,500 mt/year of methanol.

Stena Pro Patria is the first out of six dual-fuel tanker vessels Proman Stena Bulk has under construction at China's Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI). It will be joined by the Stena Pro Marine and Stena Promise later this year.

Proman Stena Bulk is a joint venture between Swiss methanol producer Proman and Swedish shipping company Stena Bulk.

The induction of the vessel highlights the importance of methanol as a marine fuel that is reliable, and also available, to curb global emissions in the near- or long-term, Proman’s chief executive David Cassidy said.

He thinks the new vessel will boost confidence among other shipping companies to switch to cleaner fuels such as methanol, and subsequently send a strong demand signal to the market.

Stena Pro Patria is expected to leave South Korea’s GSI Shipyard in Ulsan filled up with methanol in fuel tanks, and will arrive in Trinidad and Tobago for a naming ceremony later this year.

A recent study by DNV argued that hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and methanol will play major roles in decarbonising shipping.

Earlier this year, Maersk announced agreements with six methanol suppliers to source at least 730,000 mt/year by the end of 2025, which it claims is sufficient to power the 12 methanol-fuelled container vessels that it currently has on order.