RINA greenlights SRC Group’s methanol storage technology

Italian classification society RINA has approved a concept of methanol storage technology designed by Estonian maritime tech firm SRC Group.

PHOTO: Getty Images

Methanol is relatively easy to store and handle, but in practice, ship tanks for low-flashpoint fuels require a cofferdam of at least 600 mm to separate the internal and external walls. Since methanol is less energy-dense than residual fuel oil, a methanol tank must hold 2.4 times the volume to generate the same energy, affecting ship range and design, SRC Group said.

Traditionally, a ship's cofferdam is a void space between two decks that prevents leakage between adjacent compartments, improving safety and segregation.

However, SRC’s methanol storage technology replaces the conventional internal wall-cofferdam-external wall design with a solid elastomer core “sandwiched” between two steel plates. This innovation provides a triple barrier against leakage while the 25 mm thick walls offer 85% more storage volume.

The methanol storage technology complies with RINA’s guidelines.

“Methanol Superstorage can be retrofitted without significant disruption to a vessel’s general arrangement. RINA’s comprehensive AiP confirms that it is applicable across a full range of ship types,” SRC Group’s innovation manager Alex Vainokivi stated.

By Tuhin Roy

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