Half-time reached in Stena Germanica's methanol conversion
It is now not long to half-time in the conversion of Stena Germanica, which, starting from the end of March, will run on methanol. This will make Stena Line the first in the world to operate a ferry using the new fuel, which reduces emissions of sulphur and particles drastically compared to previously used fuels.
The 240 metre long Stena Germanica will be the world's first methanol-powered ferry from the beginning of 2015. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the engine manufacturer Wärtsilä, the ports of Gothenburg and Kiel as well as the world's largest producer and supplier of methanol, Methanex Corporation.
The conversion of the Stena Germanica is being carried out in Gdansk, Poland, at the Remontova shipyard, starting at the end of January and it is due to be finished at the end of March. The refurbishment is being partly financed through the EU "Motorways of the Seas" initiative and the total cost is approximately Euro 22 million.
"The refurbishment at the shipyard is going well and we are proud to have the chance to lead this development in our industry. Our focus has always been on innovation that benefits both our customers and society in general, and being the first in the world to convert a ferry to run on methanol is a large step towards long-term sustainable transports. Implementation of the project has been possible thanks to the good cooperation between our technical personnel, Wärtsilä and Methanex," says Carl-Johan Hagman, CEO, Stena Line.
Wärtsilä, in collaboration with Stena Teknik, has developed the technology and the equipment to convert the engines. After the conversion, the engine will be "dual fuel", where methanol is used as the primary fuel while there is also the option to use MGO (Marine Gas Oil) as backup.
The emissions from methanol are roughly the same as for LNG (Liquified Natural Gas), but are easier to process and do not place the same demands on infrastructure. Since 2005, Stena Line has worked to reduce its environmental impact by means of an energy-saving programme and it has succeeded in reducing the energy consumption of its ships by an average of 2.5 percent per year.
Facts about methanol
Methanol is a colourless liquid that can be produced from natural gas, coal, biomass or even CO2. By using methanol, the emissions of sulphur (SOx) are reduced by roughly 99 percent, nitrogen (NOx) by 60 percent, particles (PM) by 95 percent and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 25 percent when compared to fuels currently available.
Facts about Stena Germanica
Total length 240 metre Year built 2001
Load-metres 4000 Engine Wärtsilä 8ZAL 40S MD, 32,000 horsepower
For more information, please contact Jesper Waltersson, Head of Communications Stena Line, phone no +46 (0) 31 85 85 32 or +46 (0) 704 85 85 32. jesper.waltersson@stenaline.com
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators with 35 ferries and 22 routes in northern Europe. Stena Line is developing new intermodal freight solutions by combining transport by rail, road and sea and it is an important part of the European logistics network. The company is family-owned, was founded 1962 and the head office is located in Gothenburg. Stena Line is part of the Stena Sphere, which has around 20.500 employees and a turnover of SEK 54 billion.
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