CIMAC has released guidance regarding the questions that may arise with the publication of ISO 6583:2024, the first specification of methanol as a fuel for marine applications.
With the publication of the first edition of ISO 6583:2024 – Methanol as a fuel for marine applications – General requirements and specifications, a number of questions will arise in the industry.
To support the industry, ISO/TC 28/SC4/WG18 requested CIMAC WG 7 to support the standard through the publication of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Some of the key FAQs include:
Why is there a need for an international standard for methanol as a marine fuel?
Methanol is a chemical widely traded internationally. Methanol has diverse applications, including as a chemical feedstock, solvent, fuel, or as a constituent in various products. The quality requirements for methanol are established by the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA).
However, some of these requirements are not applicable for methanol used as a fuel for diesel engines or fuel cells, and certain marine-specific aspects are not covered by the IMPCA specifications. Therefore, it was considered necessary to develop an international standard for methanol as a marine fuel.
Why should this marine-specific standard be used?
ISO 6583:2024 addresses the quality requirements for the use of methanol as a marine fuel. The IMPCA quality standard specification includes requirements not relevant for marine applications.
An international standard for methanol as marine fuel facilitates international trade of the product by ensuring the quality of the product across different countries. Methanol can now be ordered as a marine fuel.
Is the standard addressing the health and safety aspects of methanol?
ISO 6583:2024 document is a technical standard. As given in the warning as included in that document, methanol is categorised as a low flash point fuel. Also, there are health issues associated with methanol. Consequently, addressing health and safety issues is the responsibility of the individual user of that document as relevant.
For health and safety aspects for methanol, reference can, for example, be made to the safety data sheet (SDS) of methanol, which should be available from the producer or supplier.
Why are there three methanol grades in the standard?
Given that there is such a wide range of marine equipment that could use methanol as a fuel, it was seen that this should be reflected in the standard. This marine equipment can range from large bore low or medium speed diesel engines through to high-speed diesel engines or fuel cells.
Each of these has its respective merits but also sensitivities which need to be recognised. Hence, the three grades were developed. A further area is how marine methanol fuel treatment arrangements and components develop over time and the levels of effectiveness which will be attained.
However, as the marine methanol market develops there could be a need for further grades, particularly if a demand for methanol supplied as a mixed product with set proportions of, for example, ethanol develops. This is one of the areas which will be kept under review.
Why are environmental requirements not included in the standard?
Sustainability aspects are outside the scope of ISO 6583:2024. This technical standard addresses the quality of the product delivered to the ship as marine fuel, regardless of the source or manufacturing process. Therefore, it applies to all types of methanol, including various sustainable forms such as bio-methanol, e-methanol and methanol associated with carbon capture and storage as well as that produced from natural gas.
Can ISO 6583:2024 be used to evaluate the CO2, the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Green House Gas (GHG) reduction potentials in view of regulatory requirements?
No, ISO 6583:2024 is a technical standard and does not address the carbon content, the CII or the GHG reduction potential of methanol. Suppliers of renewable methanol are currently obligated to demonstrate its sustainability credentials.
Going forward, all fuels are expected to be subject to Life Cycle Analysis and duly assigned a carbon or GHG factor under the regulatory regime or regimes within which they operate.
The CIMAC guidance also answers questions related to IMPCA specifications and related information, sampling of methanol, as well as characteristics and test methods of the fuel.
