First mid-range Menthol fueled taker has been completed and delivered to Stena Bulk and Proman Shipping earlier this week setting a new benchmark for MR tanker sustainability. Built at Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. (GSI) in China, the 49,900 dwt Stena Pro Patria, is the first of six menthol fueled tankers ordered in 2019.
The vessel departed for its first journey on Monday to stop in Hong Kong before reaching Ulsan, South Korea to load menthol fuel and then will head to Trinidad and Tobago for its naming ceremony.
With 12,500 tons of menthol as an expected fuel consumption, the Stena Pro Patria will reduce NOx emissions by 60 percent and will reduce CO2 emissions and pollutants.
The tanker has the latest generation MAN dual-fuel engines with optimizing tuning, controlled combustion, and an energy shaft generator helping to reduce fuel consumption and reaching IMOs criteria’s to cut emissions.
“The vessel’s state-of-the-art fuel consumption and engine technology are important steps towards more sustainable shipping,” said David Cassidy, Chief Executive of Proman. “We hope today’s news and our continued investment and commitment will encourage others to accelerate their transition to cleaner fuels like methanol, benefitting from immediate emissions savings while also sending out strong demand signals to the market.”
Cassidy highlighted that the delivery of the Pro Patria is a major milestone and that they believe it is sending an important message to the shipping market that methanol is a reliable and available marine fuel which can reduce global shipping emissions.
Now the question is of menthol availability for ships, with major shipping companies ordering menthol fueled vessels or going dual-fuel technologies which can fuel menthol, Stena Proman confidently updated that menthol is currently available in more than 100 ports including major bunkering hubs.
What we know is menthol fuel fits within the IMO GHG strategy reducing GHG from ships and helping against climate change.
