ABS joins partnership in designing methanol-fueled bulker

A new type of 85,000DWT methanol-fueled bulk carrier has been designed in a joint development project (JDP) between ABS, Singapore’s SDTR Marine, and China’s Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI).

SDTR supplied key operational data and SDARI developed the design with ABS support and review. ABS also provided an analysis of methanol as fuel market outlook, including a vessel performance evaluation in various operating scenarios including under the European Union Emissions Trading System (Fuel EU, ETS).

Wang GangYi, chief engineer of SDARI, said the advantages of methanol are mainly reflected in the lower transformation cost, and through the ratio of gray methanol and green methanol, it can meet the requirements of GHG emission reduction in 2050.