Damen wins class and flag AiP for methanol-fuelled workboats

Starting in the summer of 2022 and working with Classification Society Bureau Veritas, Damen has developed and gained Approval in Principle (AiP) for designs of methanol-powered compact vessels.

Current methanol fuelled designs have been mainly focused on large containerships.

By working closely with Bureau Veritas and with the Dutch and Belgian flag authorities, Damen can now offer designs for a wide range of methanol-powered workboats including tugs, stationary dredgers and high-speed vessels to fast crew suppliers, pilot boats, stan patrols and fast ferries, as and when the engines for these types of vessels are available.

The framework lays out the design modifications that are required to ensure that the methanol-powered workboats have standards of safety at least equal to their diesel-fuelled equivalents.

Part of the process involved identifying existing rules that were not applicable to smaller vessels so they could be replaced with alternative solutions, and then identifying and analysing the risks as well as to develop standardised solutions that could be used across the workboat portfolio.

“One of the interesting outcomes of the design process is that the methanol storage and fuel systems will take up less space than they would have under the prescriptive rules. Small vessels present a real challenge with space at such a premium, but our designs will not only keep the vessels compact, but they will also be more sustainable as they will not require additional inputs when being built,”  said Pieter Spruijt, Technical Specialist Alternative Fuels and Damen System Owner Methanol Systems.

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"Bureau Veritas had the privilege of assisting Damen in achieving an approval in principle for a modular-based methanol fuel system,” said Herman Spilker, Bureau Veritas’s Vice President North Europe.

“Several innovative technical solutions for compact ships were devised and successfully underwent the approval and HAZID process under the oversight of the acknowledged Flag States of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Belgium. We look forward to assisting Damen in the construction of the inaugural unit," he added.