Stena Germanica to Run on Methanol
The Stena Line's ferry Stena Germanica will become the world's first ferry to use methanol as a fuel. The 240m, 1,500-passenger, 2001-built ro-pax ship will soon undergo conversions in Poland’s Remontowa shipyard.
The aim of the exercise is to drastically cut exhaust emissions on the ship which operates between Gothenburg and Kiel. The conversion is with the aim of becoming the first ship of its type to run on methanol when completed soon. The project is being undertaken in conjunction with engine builder Wärtsilä, the ports of Gothenburg and Kiel and gas supplier Methanex.
The six-week conversion, expected to cost around euro 22million, will get underway at Remontowa, and is being financially supported by the EU “Motorways of the Seas” initiative.
Preliminary tests on a methanol-modified Wartsila engine 6ZAL40S similar to the Germanica’s were overseen in Trieste by five LR teams from our Copenhagen, Trieste, Gotheburg, Venice and Southampton offices.
Lloyd’s Register’s Trieste-based Lead Specialist, Roberto Costantino informed that they carried out three days of tests on a modified engine at Wartsila’s R&D laboratory so as to understand the engine performance when running with methanol.
Methanol offers similar environmental advantages to LNG but offers simpler handling and less complex infrastructure requirements. It can be produced from natural gas, coal, biomass or even, according to Stena, from CO2.
"At Stena Line we are extremely proud of contributing to the development of our industry. Our focus has always been on innovation for the benefit of both customers and society at large and this is a prime example when this goes hand in hand. We are constantly evaluating different fuels for the future and to be first in the world with a methanol conversion is a big step towards sustainable transportation. The project has been possible thanks to the great teamwork and collaboration between our technical staff, Wärtsilä and Methanex”, stated Carl-Johan Hagman, CEO of Stena Line.
