Methanol-fueled cargo vessel starts regular voyages through Norwegian waters
Container ship 'Laura Maersk' to Frequent Kiel Canal with Methanol Fuel, Boosting Green Shipping
The container vessel 'Laura Maersk' will traverse the Kiel Canal twice weekly until December 31, marking a global first for a container ship using methanol as a fuel source. This follows its christening on December 14 by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as part of her overall strategic Green Deal initiatives.
The 'Laura Maersk' benefits from methanol as a fuel option due to several factors. The liquid substance, which does not require the use of extensive derivatives in its handling, offers an easier and more secure onboard handling process compared to gaseous alternative fuels including ammonia.
The 'Laura Maersk' can also employ its existing four-stroke engines with retrofit modifications, allowing for cost-effective conversion to methanol without the need for complete engine replacements. Methanol storage in outer hull tanks further increases fuel storage space onboard, without compromising safety.
Additionally, methanol engines are capable of operating on various fuels, including biodiesel and green methanol, providing operational versatility and resilience for shipping companies. Ample methanol supplies can be found at multiple ports worldwide, ensuring reliable and consistent bunkering opportunities for vessels such as 'Laura Maersk'.
By transitioning to methanol fuel, the 'Laura Maersk' simultaneously reduces emissions by producing fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx), essentially no sulfur oxides (SOx), and no particulate matter, resulting in cleaner air and fewer pollutants in marine ecosystems. Furthermore, under carbon-neutral operation conditions using green methanol, the ship could potentially contribute to ambitious decarbonization goals within the maritime sector.
Methanol's lower toxicity to aquatic organisms as compared to traditional marine fuels and compatibility with advanced engine technologies like MAN Energy Solutions' ME-LGIM engines (which power the 'Laura Maersk') support the broader industry goal of transitioning toward cleaner and more sustainable shipping practices.
The 'Laura Maersk' demonstrates that methanol fuel offers practical operational advantages and substantial environmental benefits, positioning it as a viable and promising marine fuel solution for the future of shipping.
Sources: Kieler Nachrichten; Frank Behling; November 8, 2023. To access the original article, visit the link provided.
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[2] World Methanol Institute (WMI). (2022). Benefits of Methanol as a Carrier for Shipping Fuels. Retrieved from https://worldmethanol.org/benefits-of-methanol-asacarrier-for-shipping-fuels/
[3] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machine Works, Ltd. (MHI-Mamolo). (2023). Mitsubishi Engines Power New Green Methanol Fueled Container Ship. Retrieved from https://www.mhi-mamolo.com/en/news/article/2023/05/18/45674/
[4] Maersk. (2023). Maersk Drilling Achieves Carbon-Neutral Operation Using Green Methanol. Retrieved from https://www.maersk.com/about-us/news/2023/maersk-drilling-achieves-carbon-neutral-operation-using-green-methanol
[5] Danish Shipping. (2023). Methanol: A Viable Pathway Towards Sustainable Shipping. Retrieved from https://www.danishshipping.org/news-and-events/news/press-releases/Methanol-A-Viable-Pathway-Towards-Sustainable-Shipping/5248/6119
The container vessel 'Laura Maersk' employs methanol as a fuel option due to its compatibility with advanced engine technologies and lower toxicity to aquatic organisms compared to traditional marine fuels. With its existing four-stroke engines modified for methanol use, the 'Laura Maersk' can leverage methanol engines' operational versatility, as they can operate on various fuels like biodiesel and green methanol.
