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Green Maritime Methanol project selects nine ships to research on methanol as fuel

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The Green Maritime Methanol project, formed by a consortium of major Dutch maritime companies, has selected nine ships for research on the use of methanol as marine fuel.

New designs, newbuildings and existing ships of Boskalis, Van Oord, the Royal Netherlands Navy and Wagenborg Shipping were selected, with the vessel sizes ranging between 300 dwt to 23,000 dwt.

Research for these ships will start with determination of the cost for implementation and use of methanol fuel systems, compared with the use of low sulphur marine diesel.

Green Maritime Methanol said each of the selected ships has its own specific operational profile, which will provide a specific insight into the feasibility of methanol for a certain ship type, its sailing route and cruising speed. Cargo vessels, as well as ferries, dredgers and support vessels operating in coastal waters, are all being evaluated.

For each scenario, the most attractive technical, operational and economical configurations will be determined.

Read more: Major Dutch maritime firms join forces to study methanol as fuel

The Dutch consortium includes shipowners Boskalis, The Royal Netherlands Navy, Van Oord, Wagenborg Shipping; shipbuilders Damen Shipyards, Feadship, Royal IHC; engine manufacturers Pon Power, Wartsila and their trade association VIV; equipment suppliers Marine Service Noord; and service providers including C-Job Naval Architects.

The consortium has recently welcomed three new entrants: the Royal Netherlands Shipowners’ Association (KVNR), Bureau Veritas (BV) and Lloyd’s Register (LR).

The Green Maritime Methanol project is also supported by TKI Maritiem and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and runs until December 2020.