The Methanol Institute calls on delegates that will meet during the International Maritime Organization’s upcoming Maritime Safety Committee to approve amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels Code (IGF Code).
It is reported that the Committee, among others, will approve the use of methanol as a marine fuel, while the amendments will bring ethyl and methyl alcohols, fuel cells and low-flashpoint diesel into the code. The guidelines enshrine ethyl and methyl alcohols as options for marine fuel; a milestone the institute believes will be catalyst for more ship operators to consider Methanol as a low carbon compliance option.
The Methanol Institute supports that the regulatory approval will drive more ship operators to consider the use of methanol.
The IMO’s sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC5) completed draft interim guidelines covering the safety of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel in 2018 with formal approval tabled for subsequently delayed MSC meeting in the first half of 2020.
12 Methanol powered chemical tankers constructed to equivalent class rules are already in operation with another 10 on order and the new guidelines should shorten the time to approval and even lower the cost of constructing tankers, bulkers and containerships using Methanol as fuel. The first bunkering Technical Reference for Methanol was published recently by Lloyd’s Register and MI, as fuel suppliers are gearing up to increase capacity for Methanol bunkering volumes.
MI COO Chris Chatterton noted that
With new Methanol guidelines the industry truly has a choice that can help start to reduce emissions with the regulatory certainty it needs.
Recently, TNO and partners in the Green Maritime Methanol Project launched a new report on methanol, highlighting the technological and economic viability of methanol as a marine fuel for the Dutch short-sea shipping sector.
In addition, Lloyd’s Register and The Methanol Institute published a bunkering technical reference to help shipowners, ports and bunker suppliers understand the processes and procedures required for the safe use of methanol as a marine fuel.
The Institute is collaborating with shipyards and shipmanagers on standard designs for ships powered by methanol and interest is growing among owners seeking a cost-effective solution to cutting carbon emissions quickly and embracing renewables in the longer term.