A techno-commercial seminar on The Rise of Methanol as Future Proof Marine Fuel was held in hybrid mode on 29th April. It was conducted by Technical Sub-Committee, Institute of Marine Engineers (India), Mumbai Branch jointly with Sea Commerce (America) Inc. Texas at Banquet Hall -MCA, Bandra – Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai, on zoom platform and also broadcasted live on Facebook. The objective of the event was to create an awareness among the maritime fraternity to find cleaner energy pathways to comply with current and future IMO decarbonization goals.

Mr Sunil Kumar, Head -Technical Sub-Committee, IME(I), Mumbai Branch gave opening remarks of the event. He expressed his delight to host this event jointly with Sea Commerce and extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries attending the event being conducted in hybrid mode. While addressing the audience, Mr Kumar reiterated the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “To improve is to change to perfect is to change often” and expressed the significance of need to change to an alternate fuel for regulatory compliance.

Mr David Birwadkar, Vice Chairman, IME(I), Mumbai Branch extended his warm welcome to everyone attending the first hybrid seminar being conducted by Institute of Marine Engineers (India), Mumbai Branch. He mentioned that the relevance of the topic is very current and one of the most debated and discussed one. Mr Birwadkar also briefed the august audience regarding the forthcoming event of INMARCO 2022.

Capt Saleem Alavi, President, Sea Commerce (America) Inc. Texas gave an introduction of the seminar and highlighted that all the speakers have the authority and deep knowledge on the subject. An informative video was played on “Methanol in our Lives”.

Mr Richard Clayton, Chief Correspondent, Lloyds List, London mentioned that shipping is moving to a bit of an uneven space towards a cleaner energy pathway, but it is an industry which can’t be looked from only one aspect, we need to look at fuels and propulsion systems, seafarer skills, class, safeties, new technologies, etc. which affects all the parts of the industry. He requested to all the speakers of the event to focus on “What makes methanol a future proof fuel?”

Thereafter, Mr Clayton introduced the speakers, he invited Mr Vijay Arora, Managing Director, Indian Register of Shipping, Mumbai to express his views on the subject. Mr Arora spoke on perspective of classification society on the use of Methanol as a future fuel in India.

Then Ms Ayca Yalcin, Director, Marketing Development EMEA, Methanex, Belgium shared her views on the “Availability of Methanol and its Economics”. She introduced Methanex to the audience and spoke about methanol as a marine fuel, and transition of shipping to a low carbon future.

Ms Berit Hinnemann, Head of Decarbonization Business Development, Maersk, Denmark enumerated the factors that prompted Maersk to select Methanol as a fuel and Maersk’s Green Offtake Partnership.

Mr Chris Chatterton, Chief Operating Officer, Methanol Institute, Singapore provided updates on methanol regulations and the reason for using methanol as a future proof fuel. He also explained the demand, supply, and potential of Methanol. Indicative cost of renewable methanol, policy impact, availability in ports etc. were also elucidated by him.

Mr Fredrik Stubner, Chief Operating Officer, Green Marine Engineering, Copenhagen gave his presentation on Methanol Dual Fuel Technology from concept and design to fruition, initial challenges which can come across, safety features, NOx Emissions, operating and bunkering, training requirements, investment costs etc.

Capt. Alavi talked about alternative fuels, methanol, comparison between methanol, ammonia, LNG (methane) and Hydrogen. Sea Commerce has examined this issue and estimates that to install a shore-based 20,000cbm methanol storage tank would cost approximately $2.5 million – the same size LNG tank facility would cost approximately $50 million. A significant price differential also exists for the establishment of truck or bunkering barge infrastructure, indicating that methanol could be made available more economically than LNG or other new fuels that require cryogenic or pressurized containment systems. Methanol has the simplest storage and handling of competing fuels, for example, LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, and LPG.

In his presentation, Mr Rene Laursen, Director – American Bureau of Shipping, Fuel and Technology, Global Sustainability, Copenhagen explained about GHG emissions, IMOs strategy for GHG reduction, properties of methanol, class perspective on methanol, IMO IGF Code etc.

From regulatory perspective, Mr Vikrant Rai, Engineer, and Ship Surveyor cum -Deputy DG (Tech), Mumbai articulately expressed that the decarbonization of international shipping is centered around identification of an alternate fuel, production of an alternative fuel, infrastructure for bunkering these fuels, ships and technology which can operate on alternative fuel and retrofitting technologies. He also stressed upon the importance of port energy enhancements and ship energy enhancements.

Mr Kjeld Aabo, Director, New Technologies, 2 Stroke Promotions, MAN ES, Denmark then gave a presentation on the evolution of 2 stroke methanol powered DF engine, the latest dual fuel engine technology, and Methanol Engine 3.0.

Capt Alavi conducted a poll at the end of each session to obtain the views of the audience on the subject and shared the outcome promptly with them.

Subsequently, Mr S M Rai, Member, Technical Sub-Committee, IME(I), Mumbai Branch handled the Q&A session and the questions from audience were addressed by the respective speakers. The audience listened to the many thought-provoking questions that the discussion had generated and the replies thereto.

Mr. Sanjeev Mehra, Hon. Secretary, IME(I) Mumbai Branch proposed the vote of thanks.

Marex Media