Stena Prosperous, a 49,990 DWT vessel, was successfully delivered to Proman Stena Bulk by the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) and will now begin commercial operations running entirely on methanol.
The vessel is the company’s fourth methanol-fueled tanker which is now trading and bunkering using the low-emission fuel. During 2022, methanol fuel has been loaded in Ulsan, Trinidad and Rotterdam, with additional bunkering hubs slated to follow in 2023.
The methanol-fueled vessel benefits from an extremely low EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) value when using methanol. The IMOIIMeMax vessel features an array of design improvements and technologies to maximize energy efficiency while reducing fuel consumption. This has resulted in an EEDI which is 11% below the 2025 Phase 3 requirements.
With a futureproofed engine design, the Stena Prosperous is ready to achieve upcoming emissions reduction targets and will use an estimated 12,500 tons of methanol as fuel per year.
The use of methanol virtually eliminates SOx and particulate matter emissions, in addition to NOx being cut by 60%. Furthermore, CO2 emissions are reduced from the vessel’s operations by up to 15% on a tank-to-wake basis when compared to the usage of traditional maritime fuels.
“It’s fantastic to be able to end 2022 with a fourth methanol tanker joining our joint venture fleet,” commented Erik Hånell, president and CEO, Stena Bulk. “These vessels are truly pioneering and meet the highest standards of safety, sustainability and efficiency, laying down a marker for what is already possible today through progressive partnerships like ours with Proman.”
“We are immensely proud of what our joint venture with Stena Bulk has been able to achieve over the last year,” said Anita Gajadhar, managing director, marketing and logistics, Proman. “We now have four vessels in operation running on methanol as a marine fuel, which proves that methanol isn’t a future fuel – it’s a today fuel. Its highly scalable and commercially viable decarbonization pathway means it is one of best solutions for shipowners to meet sustainability commitments and every incoming emissions targets that the maritime industry will face.”
The latest ship joins the Proman Stena Bulk-owned Stena Pro Patria and Stena Pro Marine, and the Proman-owned Stena Promise. All of the ships were delivered during 2022.