Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) has unveiled a 69.36-meter green methanol bunkering vessel concept designed for the Port of Klaipėda, capable of a 250,000-tonne annual throughput in shallow regional waters. Backed by a €100 million European Investment Bank financing package for the port’s green transition, this design expands WBE’s sustainable portfolio following its work on the hydrogen-powered waste collection vessel RASA.
Klaipeda, Lithuania | July 16, 2026 – The global maritime energy transition has entered a critical phase where the bottleneck is no longer engine technology, but the localized availability of alternative bunker infrastructure. Addressing this commercial gap, Lithuanian naval architecture firm Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) has finalized the technical specifications and concept design for a dedicated green methanol bunkering vessel.
Developed specifically for the operational demands of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority (Lithuania), the concept represents WBE’s first design dedicated entirely to green methanol supply. The project establishes a blueprint for regional bunkering networks as European ports scramble to comply with strict FuelEU Maritime and FuelEU Fuel mandates.
Design Technical Specifications & Capacity
Engineered primarily for shallow waters and local inland-waterway bunkering routes, the 69.36-meter-long vessel balances a compact hydrodynamic footprint with high-volume cargo capabilities.
The Logistics Profile
- Total Static Cargo Capacity: 800 metric tonnes of green methanol.
- Annual Throughput Potential: Up to 250,000 metric tonnes.
- Operational Scope: Low-draft design tailored for maneuvering safely in regional Baltic shallows and performing ship-to-ship bunkering within localized port limits.
The concept expands WBE’s architectural portfolio from “methanol-ready” commercial vessels into active, zero-emission supply infrastructure.
“As the maritime sector evolves, engineering companies have a responsibility not only to respond to market needs but also to anticipate future challenges,” stated Marius Arkusauskas, Director at Western Baltic Engineering. “By exploring emerging technologies and alternative fuel applications, we help our partners prepare for the next generation of maritime operations.”
Financial Backing and Regional Geopolitics
The unveiling of the design follows a massive financial injection for the region. Just weeks prior, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a €100 million financing package explicitly earmarked to accelerate the Port of Klaipėda‘s green energy transition.
This funding forms part of a larger €201 million master infrastructure modernization project aimed at establishing Lithuania as a key green fuel corridor within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
The Baltic Synergy: Building on the RASA Project
This methanol concept is not an isolated experiment; it builds directly upon an established technical alliance between Lithuanian and Estonian maritime clusters.
WBE, which operates as a subsidiary of Estonia’s BLRT Grupp, previously served as the core design partner alongside main contractor Baltic Workboats Ltd and shipyard Western Baltija Shipbuilding to deliver the RASA, the world’s first commercial zero-diesel waste collection vessel powered by green hydrogen and battery electricity.
The Collaborative Ecosystem Compared:
| Vessel Project | Key Energy Matrix | Architectural Role | Project Status |
| RASA (42m Tanker) | Green Hydrogen (2x 40kW Genevos Fuel Cells) + 2MWh EST-Floattech Batteries | Design Partner to Baltic Workboats & Western Baltija Shipbuilding | Commissioned & Operational (June 2026) |
| Newbuild Concept (69.36m Tanker) | Green Methanol Bulk Cargo | Primary Developer (Technical Specification & Hull Concept) | Concept Design Complete / Seeking Commercial Tenders |
By pairing the newly operational hydrogen ecosystem of the RASA with a commercial-scale green methanol bunker concept, Western Baltic Engineering and the Port of Klaipėda are steadily positioning the Baltic Sea as a primary testing ground for real-world, decentralized alternative fuel infrastructure.
About Western Baltic Engineering (WBE)
Established in 2003 as a strategic subsidiary of the Western Shipyard Group, Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) has grown into one of the Baltic region’s premier ship design and marine engineering service providers. Backed by an in-house multidisciplinary team of 100 experienced shipbuilding constructors and engineers, WBE delivers full-scope technical support spanning naval architecture, detailed hull design, structural strength calculations, 3D modeling, and comprehensive workshop and piping documentation.
WBE utilizes industry-standard software suites, including ShipConstructor, AVEVA Marine, and Cadmatic for 3D modeling, Rhinoceros for visualization, and specialized platforms like NISA II and Dialog-Static for structural and stability calculations. Known for its extensive technical know-how and “always on time” delivery culture, WBE has solidified its position within the broader BLRT Grupp ecosystem as an essential engineering hub for high-tech newbuilds, green conversions, and complex offshore industry solutions.
Source: Western Baltic Engineering