A Joint Venture Achieved New Methanol Marine Fuel Milestone

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Methanex, Stena Line and Port of Gothenburg Achieve New Methanol Marine Fuel Milestone

World’s first methanol ferry is first non-tanker to bunker via ship-to-ship

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Methanex

Corporation (TSX:MX) (NASDAQ:MEOH), Stena Line and the Port of Gothenburg are

proud to mark a new milestone in advancing methanol as a cleaner burning

marine fuel—supporting the shipping industry’s shift towards decarbonization.

First methanol ferry

On January 23, the world’s first methanol ferry, the Stena Germanica, was the

first non-tanker to successfully complete ship-to-ship methanol bunkering at

the Port of Gothenburg in cooperation with Methanex. This partnership is

another demonstration of the leadership role that the parties play in growing

the demand for methanol as a marine fuel and their commitment to playing an

active role in supporting the industry’s energy transition.

“As the world’s largest  producer and supplier of  methanol, we’re pleased  to

continue our collaboration with Stena Line  to demonstrate that methanol is  a

leading alternative, cleaner burning,  future-proof marine fuel,” said  Karine

Delbarre, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Logistics, Methanex. “This

first  ship-to-ship  methanol  bunkering  for  a  non-tanker,  leveraging  our

partners E&S Tankers and Port of Gothenburg, is further evidence that methanol

is globally available, safe to ship, store and handle using procedures similar

to those for conventional marine fuels.”

Ship-to-Ship bunkering

“The Stena Germanica, connecting Gothenburg, Sweden with Kiel, Germany, became

the world’s first  methanol-powered ferry  when Stena Line  converted the  240

metre vessel  in 2015  in partnership  with Methanex,  Wärtsilä, the  Port  of

Gothenburg and the Port of Kiel,” said Maria Tornvall, Head of  Sustainability

at Stena  Line. “We  welcome ship-to-ship  bunkering as  a tool  to achieve  a

stable and efficient  supply chain  for methanol  which is  critical in  Stena

Line’s shift to alternative fuels  and to retain our  position as a leader  in

sustainable shipping.”

 

As the largest port  in Scandinavia, the Port  of Gothenburg’s ambition is  to

become the primary bunkering hub for renewable methanol in Northern Europe.

 

“This is a door-opening demonstration, proving that there is a feasible way to

handle ship-to-ship methanol  bunkering. With this,  we are strengthening  our

position as a bunker hub and at the same time showcasing that this can be done

in a safe and efficient way. Not only here, but also in other ports around the

world,” said Christoffer Lillhage, Senior Business Development Manager, Energy

at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

 

Methanol as an alternative marine fuel has ultra-clean burning properties that

meet increasingly stringent air quality emissions regulations in the  maritime

sector. Compared to conventional marine  fuels, methanol reduces emissions  of

sulphur oxides (SOx)  and particulate matter  (PM) by more  than 95 per  cent,

nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 80 per cent and CO[2] from combustion by up  to

15 per cent.

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Source: Bloomberg