ABS | Methanol Bunkering, Technical and Advisory
METHANOL AS A MARINE FUEL
The maritime industry faces several substantive challenges driven by increasingly stricter gaseous air emission legislation and increased efforts by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.
The adoption of low-flashpoint fuels and gases which can be produced from renewable and sustainable sources, such as methanol, is expected to become one of the means to meet those challenges.
Accordingly, owners, operators, designers and shipyards around the world are considering taking advantage of using methanol
as marine fuel.
There are currently no International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards developed for methanol as a marine fuel. The fuel quality issues of methanol are far less than may be experienced with conventional residual fuel oils or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The ISO/DIS 6583 Specification of methanol as a marine fuel for marine applications is currently indicated as under development stage at the ISO/TC 28/SC 4 Technical Committee.
Until this specification is published, the fuel specification and quality should be subject to the minimum statutory requirements for sulfur content and commercial agreements between supplier and purchaser.
Agreements for fuel supply should also take into consideration the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association
(IMPCA) Methanol Reference Specifications and the required specifications of the equipment manufacturers, i.e., the engine and fuel supply system designers
Methanol, Ammonia and Hydrogen
