Stena Provident, a groundbreaking methanol-fueled vessel among the fleet of IMOIIMeMAX ships, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the inaugural methanol bunkering at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, US, on February 29, 2024. This achievement underscores a transformative step towards cleaner energy solutions in maritime transportation.
Commissioned through the innovative partnership between Proman and Stena Bulk, Stena Provident is one of six state-of-the-art methanol-fueled vessels at the forefront of maritime sustainability. Under a time-charter agreement with Bahri Chemicals, the vessel successfully loaded nearly 1000 metric tons of methanol at Colonial Terminals Lathrop 2 facility, marking a historic first for the port.
The landmark event signifies a significant advancement for methanol as a marine fuel. With a record number of orders for methanol-fueled vessels in 2023, the industry is increasingly recognizing the environmental and operational benefits of this cleaner-burning fuel. According to DNV, the number of methanol-fueled ships in operation is expected to more than double by the end of 2026, with over 250 such vessels anticipated to be in service.
Anita Gajadhar, Executive Director of Marketing and Logistics at Proman, said: “Savannah is a significant port and completing the first ever methanol bunkering here underlines the growing demand for methanol as a marine fuel, and the increasing industry acceptance of its role on the pathway to achieving a lower-emission future for the shipping sector.”
“Our fleet of methanol fuelled vessels have been in operation around the world for over 20 months and we are proud to be enabling others to gain valuable operational experience of using methanol as a marine fuel by time chartering Stena Provident and other ships in the fleet. The bunkering was made possible thanks to the collaboration with Bahri Chemicals and Colonial Terminals, and I am sure it marks the first of many methanol refuellings at the port”.
“We pride ourselves on the safe and efficient handling of our customers’ diverse mix of bulk products, as well as leading and supporting marketplace innovation,” said Ryan Chandler, President of Colonial Terminals. “We are grateful to be included in this collaborative effort that supplied the first methanol bunkers in the Savannah market.”
Terence Collins, Director Chartering at Bahri Chemicals added: “We’d like to applaud our partners at Proman and Colonial Terminals for their expert handling of the inaugural methanol bunkering procedure in Savannah. We are quite sure this will be the first of many smooth and successful operations at the terminal not only for us, but for many other operators.”
The Port of Savannah, known as the fourth busiest port in the US and home to the largest single-terminal container facility in North America, serves as a critical hub for global shipping companies.
Methanol offers immediate air quality benefits, significantly reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 80% and virtually eliminating sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter when used as a marine fuel. Additionally, it presents a viable pathway to a lower-emission future, particularly with the potential for the production of green methanol using Carbon Capture technology.
Stena Provident, officially named at a ceremony hosted at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China in November 2023, along with the Stena Progressive, has further solidified its role in advancing sustainable shipping practices. In January 2024, Proman announced a 5-year time-chartering agreement for both ships with Bahri Chemicals, reinforcing their commitment to driving environmental stewardship in the maritime industry.
Source Proman