Japan to develop methanol-fuelled domestic tanker

Mitsui OSK Lines, MOL Coastal Shipping, Tabuchi Kaiun Co., Niihama Kaiun Co., Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Co, and The Hanshin Diesel Works have agreed to work together to develop methanol-fuelled domestic tanker, they said March 11.

The vessel development project, which targets delivery of the ship in 2024, was also selected to receive public funding from the Japanese ministry of economy, trade and industry and the ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.

"Methanol fuel has been more widely introduced on ocean-going vessels as an environmentally friendly fuel, including four MOL Group-operated ships, but this will be the first methanol-fuelled domestic ship," they said.

Methanol can reduce emissions of sulphur oxide by up to 99%, particulate matter by up to 95%, nitrogen oxide by up to 80%, and carbon dioxide by up to 15%, compared to vessels using conventional fuel oil, which is currently the main fuel for marine vessels, the companies added.