The world’s first methanol powered ship has resumed operations after the fire risk assessment by Sweden’s SP Fire Research was approved, based on SOLAS regulation 17 concerning alternative design and arrangements.

Operated by Stena Line, the 51,837gt/2001 built Ro-Pax ferry Stena Germanica now uses methanol as fuel, complying with stricter regulations for minimising emissions. Using this fuel the Kiel- Gothenburg ship’s emissions will drop by 99% for sulphur, 60% for nitrogen, 95% for particles and 25% for carbon dioxide. As the fuel is liquid at room temperature, methanol offers simpler transportation and storage compared to LNG.

Stena Line collaborated with Wärtsilä, the Port of Gothenburg, the Port of Kiel and Methanex Corporation.The €22m fuel conversion was carried out by Remontova Shipyard in Poland, and classification society Lloyd’s Register and ship designer ScandiNaos were also involved in the project.