PROMAN Stena Bulk formally named its first newbuild IMOIIMeMAX methanol-fuelled 49,900 DWT vessel, Stena Pro Patria, in a ceremony hosted in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 November.
Stena Pro Patria is the first of three methanol-fuelled vessels delivered in 2022 to the joint venture between leading tanker company Stena Bulk and the leading methanol producer Proman, with a further three newbuilds due for delivery between now and 2024.
Stena Pro Patria was delivered in June 2022 and has demonstrated A low energy efficiency design index value while running on methanol.
The IMOIIMeMax vessel series benefits from industry-leading design improvements and technologies to maximise energy efficiency, resulting in an EEDI 11% below the 2025 Phase 3 requirements – setting a new benchmark for methanol-fuelled tankers and further proving the operational viability of methanol as a marine fuel.
Stena Pro Patria will use approximately 12,500 tonnes of methanol as fuel per year, which will significantly reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the vessel’s commercial operations compared to conventional marine fuels.
During an address at the ceremony, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Rowley spoke about the potential for bunkering in Trinidad and Tobago to be a significant part of the country’s economic development.
“We are one of the largest producers and exporters of methanol in the world, and we happen geographically to be on a place at the tip of South America, East of the Panama Canal where all these vessels are being encouraged to change their fuel consumption from the dirty fuel to clean fuel – and that fuel is available in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
“What we are aiming to do is to make Trinidad and Tobago a major refuelling hub for oceangoing vessels that can be refuelled by clean fuel.”
Stena Bulk president and CEO Erik Hånell said, “This naming ceremony for Stena Pro Patria in Trinidad and Tobago is another important milestone for Proman Stena Bulk.
“Every step our joint venture takes proves the viability of methanol as a marine fuel and underlines that it is technically feasible, with the right knowledge and backing, to be used in-operation today. We are honoured to lead methanol’s development and scaling within the industry and to be working closely with Proman on our shared vision for methanol.
Proman chief executive David Cassidy said, “We were delighted to welcome our Stena partners to Trinidad and Tobago, which has huge potential as a future methanol bunkering hub. We share with Stena a commitment to accelerating the clean shipping transition, via our methanol-fuelled newbuilds and other initiatives, so it was particularly valuable to tour our methanol production facilities and reaffirm the low-carbon pathway for the maritime market.”
