Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) begins sea trials of the Stena Pro Patria, the first methanol powered dual-fuel tanker constructed in China.
GSI signed the deal to build three 49,990 dual-fuel DWT tankers with Proman Stena Bulk, a joint venture between Stena Bulk and Proman in 2019, the other two ships presently under construction being Stena Pro Marine and Stena Prosperous which are due to complete this year.
GSI further confirms it is extending the deal to build three additional ships to the same design.
GSI vice president William Zhou hailed the start of sea trials and testing of the propulsion equipment as ‘a watershed moment’ in the development of methanol as an alternative fuel for MR tankers.
He said each tanker will significantly slash NOx emissions by using around 12,500 tons of methanol as marine fuel a year powered by a dual-fuel engine, without catalyst conversion.
We are very proud to see the first ship in this ground-breaking fleet begin sea trials
Mr. Zhou said, adding that each tanker uses the latest energy efficiency technology including continually controlled combustion, optimised tuning, redesigned and aerodynamic hull lines and an energy shaft generator reducing fuel consumption.
Methanol has the benefit of being widely available already near many ports worldwide having being shipped for decades. Moreover, bunkering of methanol, as an ambient temperature liquid fuel, is similar to distillate fuel so can be used in existing bunkering facilities with relatively few upgrades
Mr Zhou stated.
