Europe’s leading ferry company has been shortlisted in the categories of Environment Award and Product Innovation Awardfor the innovative work it is doing with methanol powered vessels. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner in London on 3rd November.
The main objective of the Stena Methanol pilot project is to develop a pragmatic, cost-effective and green alternative to comply with the sulphur emission reduction targets in designated SECA areas and later globally. The alternatives available for ship-owners to comply with these and other future regulations are limited so the interest in this initiative is significant across the world.
Erik Lewenhaupt, Stena Line’s Head of Sustainability said: “Initially we converted the Stena Germanica for 6 weeks at Remontowa shipyard, Poland, during 2015. She is currently testing three engines on methanol and by Q3 2016 will have all her four main engines able to run fully on methanol making her the world’s first methanol powered conversion of an existing vessel. The results to date have been very encouraging and we are thrilled to try a new marine fuel with a substantially greener environmental footprint. ”
Richard Horswill, Stena Line’s Head of Freight UK and Ireland said: “ We are delighted to have been shortlisted for two categories in what are effectively the Oscar’s of the freight world. As a company Stena Line aims to connect Europe in a sustainable way and we know that our initiatives in respect of methanol and other innovative approaches are appreciated by the industry as it seeks to improve efficiency and environmental performance. ”
The Stena methanol project has received funding support from EU’s TEN-T, Motorways of the Sea initiative, and is carried out in partnership with Methanex, Wärtsilä, the Port of Kiel and the Port of Gothenburg.
