Wärtsilä receives first methanol-powered newbuild order

Marine technology company Wärtsilä is building five methanol-powered engines for a new offshore wind installation vessel ordered by Dutch shipping contractor Van Oord.

PHOTO: A Van Oord offshore wind installation vessel. Wärtsilä

Green methanol derives from hydrogen made with renewable electricity and recaptured carbon, making it a "promising future fuel candidate," says Wärtsilä.

"We see methanol as one of the alternatives to meet the industry’s goals to reduce its environmental impact,” says Harold Linssen, project director at Van Oord.

The enignes will be delivered by early next year. Wärtsilä will also provide thrusters for the vessel.

This project is part of the engine maker’s long-term strategic cooperation agreement with the Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard in China, in which they set out to develop ships capable of running on zero carbon fuels.