Trio designs methanol-powered bulker to green fleet

A methanol powered 85,000 dwt bulker has been jointly designed by shipping classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), shipowner SDTR Marine and vessel designer Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI).

PHOTO: SDTR chief executive Gao Dehui (left) with ABS vice president of Pacific regional business development Pier Carazzai (right). ABS

“Methanol is a fuel which has genuine potential to contribute to shipping’s decarbonization goals,” says Pier Carazzai, vice president of ABS Pacific regional business development.

Singapore-based SDTR is looking to upgrade its Kamsarmax fleet with more energy efficient and greener vessels to curb its carbon emissions. Its chief executive Gao Dehui says the new bulker design and cooperation with SDARI and ABS is an important step in that direction.

The vessel design is based on the SDARI’s 85,000 dwt bulk carrier design which has already clocked orders of 37 ships. Design has been evaluated in various operational scenarios including under the European Union Emissions Trading System (Fuel EU, ETS), says ABS.