ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding and China Ship Design & Research Center (CSDC) for the world’s first methanol-powered Newcastlemax Bulk Carrier.
The dual-fuel, 210,000 dwt vessel is also equipped with the methanol tank capacity to fully meet endurance requirements on methanol fuel alone.
Methanol as marine fuel is a promising fuel with the potential to support the industry’s journey to low- and zero-carbon operations.
believes Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology.
What is more, Yu Dexin, General Manager of CSDC added that “as early as 2016, CSDC realized the feasibility of methanol as a decarbonization fuel for ships and carried out relevant design and research continuously.”
Recently, ABS collaborated with Sea Machines and Foss Maritime to advance adoption of autonomous operations at sea by issuing approval in principle (AIP) to their vessel autonomy system, the SM300, that provides autonomous navigation and collision detection and collision avoidance (CDCA).
Foss will install Sea Machines’ SM300 system on board its harbor tug Rachael Allen to enhance safety and efficiency of operations. Overall, the system will function for routine transit and stand-by operations with the goals of enhanced safety and alleviating crew fatigue.
