Proman Stena Bulk, the joint venture between tanker company Stena Bulk and methanol producer Proman, has today announced the successful completion of the first ever barge-to-ship methanol bunkering on the US Gulf Coast.
The JV tankers Stena Pro Marine and Stena Prosperous were refuelled with methanol via barge while discharging clean petroleum products at a terminal in the Port of Houston in the first week of April. Stena Pro Marine was bunkered with 1,408MT of methanol, and Stena Prosperous was refuelled with 1,203MT during the operation. Both ships were time-chartered to a global trading house at the time of the refuelling.
The barge bunkering operation was conducted jointly with Kirby Corporation. Methanol is widely available in the Port of Houston, which is the United States’ busiest port in terms of foreign tonnage. Thanks to the presence of major petrochemicals hubs and significant storage capacity, more than 275,000MT of methanol is available at the port.
The landmark first bunkering supports wider efforts by US ports and shipping companies to make the industry more sustainable, Proman Stena Bulk highlighted. The Port of Houston aims to become carbon neutral in the next 30 years. A key pillar of the port’s strategy is the deployment of alternative fuels and clean energy sources.
Completing the first barge-to-ship methanol bunkering on the US Gulf Coast is a tremendous achievement for the Proman Stena Bulk joint venture.
… said Anita Gajadhar, Executive Director, Marketing, Logistics and Shipping, Proman. The company’s commitment to alternative fuel use had been stated in an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA when Anita Gajadhar had urged for a level playing field for alternative fuels through global alignment of regulations and incentives.
The bunkering also supports U.S. commitments to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 under the Global Methane Pledge, which was announced at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.
According to Proman Stena Bulk, currently available conventional methanol, produced from natural gas, virtually eliminates SOx and particulate matter, cuts NOx by 80%, and reduces tank-to-wake CO2 emissions from the vessel’s commercial operations by up to 15% compared to conventional marine fuels.
Production of green methanol from sustainable sources such as sustainable bio-mass or renewable energy is growing and highly scalable. Proman is investing in its own low-carbon and green methanol production capabilities, including a new 100,000 tonne per year methanol facility in development in North America.
The project is currently being constructed with a target start of operations in 2025. The facility will produce bio-methanol from non-recyclable forestry residues and municipal solid waste.
We are committed to remaining a leader in energy transportation, regardless of the form that energy takes. We look forward to doing this again and again in Houston and beyond.
…said Kirby Marine Group President Christian O’Neil
