UK-Ireland green shipping corridor explores e-methanol feasibility

A feasibility study has been launched to explore the potential for vessels to run on e-methanol along the Dublin-Holyhead green corridor.

PHOTO: Vessels from Stena Lines and Irish Ferries will be used for the study. Port of Dublin

The project will encompass the Dublin-Holyhead trade route, which sees a bulk of RoRo vessels ferrying between the UK and Ireland. The International Green Corridor Fund, funded by the governments of Ireland and the UK, has recently granted funds worth €143,621.00 ($155,917) to advance the project.

Shipping firms, Irish Ferries and Stena Line are spearheading the green corridor initiative. The project also includes the port authorities of Dublin and Holyhead, Ireland-based Maynooth University, environmental consultancy Ricardo and energy firm EDF Energy. 

The funding will be used to conduct a six-month study, beginning this month, to assess the feasibility of the corridor. The study will initially focus on vessels in the Irish Ferries and Stena Line fleets, exploring the potential of using e-methanol as a fuel to power these ships. The project will also evaluate the feasibility of other alternative fuel options.

“This techno-economic study will compare e-methanol to other candidate fuels and will give us some essential insights as we plan ahead,” Dublin Port Company's chief executive Ken Rooney said.

By Manjula Nair  

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