Newbuilding will load low-carbon fuel in South Korea for trip to Trinidad and Tobago

Proman Stena Bulk has got its hands on the first of its groundbreaking methanol-powered tankers.

The joint venture between Swiss producer Proman and Swedish owner Stena said the 49,000-dwt Stena Pro Patria has been delivered from Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China.

The methanol carrier will now load the low-carbon fuel in Ulsan, South Korea, for a trip to Trinidad and Tobago, where a naming ceremony will be held.

Two further MR vessels, the Stena Pro Marine and Stena Promise, are also due for delivery later this year. Proman then has three wholly-owned ships in the series coming in 2023.

The vessels will use 12,500 tonnes of methanol as marine fuel per year — the first tankers to do so.

Pollutants including SO_x and particulate matter will be eliminated, while NOx emissions will drop by 60% and CO₂ output will be reduced.

Equipped with MAN dual-fuel engines, the Stena Pro Patria will feature state-of-the-art energy efficiency technology, including continually controlled combustion, optimised tuning, redesigned and aerodynamic hull lines, and an energy shaft generator.

David Cassidy, chief executive of Proman, said: “The delivery of the Stena Pro Patria represents a major milestone for the success of our joint venture with Stena Bulk, as well as sends an important message to the market that methanol is a reliable and available marine fuel that can reduce global shipping emissions in the short, medium and long term.”

He added he hoped that the news will encourage others to accelerate their transition to cleaner fuels like methanol.

Stena Bulk chief executive Erik Hanell said: “It is only through collaboration and partnership that we can meet our climate goals.”

The first of many

“Today’s announcement of a jointly built methanol-powered vessel coming into commercial use is a great example of our successful partnership with Proman, and we hope the first of many major milestones,” he added.

The Stena Pro Patria is named in honour of Dennis Patrick, a former CEO of Proman’s subsidiary Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited (MHTL), who passed away in 2019.

Methanol is already available at more than 100 ports worldwide, including at all major bunkering hubs, the Swiss group said.

In February, Proman said it was considering chartering some of its methanol-fuelled tanker newbuildings to a new Caribbean partner.

The company has announced a partnership with National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) to lift methanol from Proman’s Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) complex in Point Lisas Industrial Estate.