Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Line (Mol) plans to charter a new methanol-fuelled methanol carrier, which will be commissioned by 2025 for use by domestic petrochemical firm Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC).
The launch aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during voyages.
Mol and MGC announced on 19 May that they signed a long-term charter contract on 28 April, with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard building the 47,802-deadweight tonne (dwt) vessel. The ship will be equipped with a dual engine, which can burn both methanol and conventional marine fuel.
Mol and MGC expect methanol use to curb up to 99pc of sulphur oxide emissions compared with conventional heavy oil, 95pc of particulate matters, 80pc of nitrogen oxide and 15pc of CO2. Use of methanol as marine fuel has already been commercialised, and the vessel can refill the fuel at around 130 major ports all over the world, Mol said.
Mol placed an order to build a methanol-fuelled methanol coastal carrier. The company operates five methanol-fuelled ocean-going vessels. Mol has attempted to accelerate diversification of alternative fuels such as methanol, LNG, biodiesel and ammonia. Mol plans to deploy 90 LNG and methanol-fuelled vessels by 2030.
MGC has previously tried to achieve carbon-neutral methanol production. It has partnered with Australian cement manufacturer Cement Australia, Japanese petrochemical producer Tokuyama, Japanese domestic engineering company JFE Engineering and upstream firm Japex to explore production of methanol from CO2. MGC is likely to consider using its synthesised methanol for the methanol-fuelled ship in coming years.
