Fugro’s vessel ready for methanol engine retrofit

The Dutch geo-data company Fugro has announced that its geophysical vessel is ready to be equipped with methanol engines after a successful conversion of the main components onboard.

PHOTO: Fugro’s geophysical vessel, Fugro Pioneer. Fugro

A geophysical vessel is a specialised ship equipped with various instruments and sensors used to conduct surveys and gather data about the physical properties of the Earth's subsurface, such as seismic activity, geological structures and oceanographic features.

The geophysical vessel, Fugro Pioneer, was converted in the Netherlands by the Fugro-led consortium MENENS (Methanol as Energy Step Towards Emission-free Dutch Shipping) with a grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) – a government body.

The recent modifications to the Fugro Pioneer vessel have allowed for the replacement of two out of its four original conventional engines with methanol-powered engines. This enables the vessel to operate on conventional marine fuels using two engines in areas where methanol may not be readily accessible.

The company expects the installation of the methanol engines to be completed in the second half of 2024.

“Using green methanol as a fuel reduces carbon emissions by more than 90% compared to conventional diesel, allowing clients to run their projects in a more sustainable manner,” Fugro said.

By Tuhin Roy

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