The Swedish Maritime Administration launched world’s first fully methanol-powered pilot boat on 14th December.
This is one of the plant’s existing pilot boats that has now been rebuilt to be tested with the new fuel. The work forms part of the Swedish Maritime Administration’s conversion work towards a fossil-free fleet of vessels.
As informed, the pilot boat has been launched by the Fastwater project, a consortium of Europe’s maritime research and technology leaders set to demonstrate the feasibility of retrofit and newbuild vessels to operate on methanol.
Said to be super-efficient in terms of low fuel consumption, the pilot boat and engine are designed in cooperation with Lloyd’s Register.
As described, the new methanol powered engine was installed in a normal engine room. Double-walled fuel pipes and double-skinned tank were also installed as well as leakage and heat detectors.
The boat will now be part of the agency’s regular pilot operations to evaluate the technology, but also ensure both its capacity and capability.
Our redesigned pilot boat is an important piece of the puzzle in our larger and broader transition work towards a completely fossil-free boat and ship fleet. The pilot boat will now be put to the test, something that happens through many hours of tough and continuous testing. Tests that will then be evaluated and analyzed.
…said Fredrik Backman, head of shipping management at SMA.
