As the maritime industry seeks sustainable and low-emission alternatives, ‘green’ methanol has emerged as a potential solution. Derived mainly from natural gas, methanol offers a lower carbon footprint and the potential for zero carbon in the future.
Despite these advantages, incorporating methanol as a maritime fuel faces challenges due to its space inefficiency compared to traditional fuels, says an article published on marine link website.
Summary
- The maritime industry is looking at ‘green’ methanol as a sustainable and low-emission alternative fuel.
- Lloyd’s Register granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for SRC Group’s ‘Methanol Superstorage.’
- Methanol Superstorage is a retrofitted tank storage solution that increases volume by 85%.
- One of the challenges of using methanol as a maritime fuel is its space inefficiency. It requires 2.4 times more methanol than traditional heavy fuel oil (HFO) to generate equivalent energy.
- SRC Group’s Methanol Superstorage overcomes this challenge by eliminating the need for cofferdams, which limit storage capacity. It uses a sandwich panel system (SPS) technology to increase storage volume.
- The SPS technology involves a continuous polymer core injected between two steel surfaces, creating a 25mm thick steel-polymer-steel barrier.
Approval In Principle For Methanol Superstorage
In a breakthrough development, Lloyd’s Register granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for SRC Group’s ‘Methanol Superstorage.’ This innovative retrofitted tank storage solution increases volume by 85%, providing a promising avenue for the maritime industry to adopt methanol fuel. The approval opens the door for further discussions and projects related to this concept.
Overcoming Space Inefficiency Challenges
One of the primary hurdles in adopting methanol as a maritime fuel has been its space inefficiency, requiring 2.4 times more methanol than traditional heavy fuel oil (HFO) to generate equivalent energy. Conventional tanks feature cofferdams, creating safety gaps that limit storage capacity. SRC Group’s Methanol Superstorage eliminates the need for cofferdams by utilizing a sandwich panel system (SPS) technology, increasing storage volume without significantly impacting the ship’s general arrangement.
Key Features Of Methanol Superstorage
The Methanol Superstorage solution replaces cofferdams with tank walls formed by SPS technology. This involves a continuous polymer core injected between two steel surfaces, creating a 25mm thick steel-polymer-steel barrier.
The SPS technology, approved for permanent repairs by major class societies, offers protection against fire and leakage equivalent to conventional tanks. Additionally, the injected polymer creates oxygen-free conditions, preventing corrosion.
Interest Across Maritime Sectors
The approval of Methanol Superstorage has generated significant interest across various maritime sectors. Discussions are underway with ferry operators, cargo ship operators, offshore support vessel owners, tug companies, shipyards, marine engine suppliers, and even the super yacht sector. Cruise ship owners are exploring the feasibility of retrofitting ships for methanol as a marine fuel.
Path To Classification And Regulatory Considerations
While securing AiP from Lloyd’s Register is a significant step, discussions with other classification societies are ongoing. The journey from AiP to full class approval involves substantive scrutiny, particularly in an evolving regulatory landscape for low flash point fuels. Methanol-fueled ships must undergo a Risk Based Certification process, including a comprehensive risk assessment for the entire methanol fuel system.
Addressing Industry Questions
SRC Group has received numerous technical inquiries from various corners of the maritime industry. One of the most common questions relates to the applicability of Methanol Superstorage to both newbuilds and retrofits. The answer is affirmative, indicating the versatility of the SPS sandwich panel system for constructing fuel storage tanks in various maritime projects.
As the maritime industry continues to explore sustainable fuel options, Methanol Superstorage stands out as a promising solution to enhance storage capacity and support the transition towards greener and cleaner maritime operations.
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Source: marinelink
