Methanol, renewable methanol may be gaining traction as bunker fuels

摘要

The IMO's Marine Safety Committee(MSC)is not expected to confirm interim guidelines for methanol's use as marine fuel until June 2020, but the Methanol Institute believes the product's low emissions of sulfur, carbon, PM, and nitrogen have resulted in greater interest in the fuel. Sub-committees of the MSC are expected to share feedback related to safety considerations in Sept. so that guidelines can be made ready for MSC approval by mid-2020. Methanex Corp. subsidiary Waterfront Shipping currendy operates seven chemical tankers that run on methanol, and the Stena Germanka is the only vessel currently bunkering methanol. Methanol Institute Chief Operating Officer Chris Chatteron expects at least four more vessels to join those ranks this year and then “meaningful gains” in 2021 and 2022.