Westfal-Larsen receives ‘world’s first methanol fuelled oceangoing vessel’

The 50,000 dwt Lindanger, the first of two DNV GL-classed sisterships ordered by the Norwegian owner from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea, will be chartered to Waterfront Shipping, a wholly owned subsidiary of Methanex Corp, the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol.

Rolf Westfal-Larsen, president and ceo of Westfal-Larsen Management, described the product/chemical tanker, which is powered by a MAN designed Hyundai–B&W 6G50ME-9.3 ME-LGI dual-fuel, two-stroke engine, as “innovative, clean burning and fuel efficient “.

Man Choon Kim, vp - contract management at Hyundai Mipo, said the company was “privileged to become the first shipyard in the world to deliver a methanol fuelled vessel,” claiming it will reduce SOx emissions by about 95% and NOx emissions by about 30% compared to conventional MDO.

“Methanol could become one of the popular alternative marine fuels in the future as an environment friendly solution with lower fuel costs, easier handling with the existing storage and bunkering infrastructure and lower installation and retrofit costs,” he added.

Lindanger has been given the additional notation LFL FUELLED to demonstrate her compliance with DNV GL’s rules for LFL fuels, which the class society says it was the first to introduce back in 2013. “We look forward to working on many more projects using this innovative marine fuel and technology,” commented DNV GL – Maritime ceo Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.