Wartsila (marine engine builder), Methanex Corporation (Canada-based methanol supplier and distributor) and Stena Line (shipowner) marked the 5-year anniversary of the launch of the world's first methanol-fuelled cruiseferry - Stena Germanica.
In March 2015, Stena Germanica was converted to run on methanol fuel at Remontowa Shipyard (Gdansk, Poland). The 240-m-long cruise ship was fitted with a Wartsila engine that runs on both methanol and MGO (marine gasoil). Following the conversion, the ferry started regularly scheduled crossings between homeports Gothenburg Sweden and Kiel Germany.
According to Carl-Johan Hagman, head of shipping and ferries at STENA, being the owner of the first ship with methanol-fuel in the world represented a great step on the journey to becoming the leader in sustainable shipping and was an achievement they were pleased to share as they marked the 5-year anniversary of "Stena Germanica’s successful operation on methanol."
Stena Germanica's conversion was cooperation between Wärtsilä, Methanex Corporation, Stena Line, the Port of Gothenburg, and the Port of Kiel. This project was co-financed by the EU. The classification was conducted by Lloyd’s Register.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced its restrictions on SOx (sulphur oxide) emissions on January 1, 2020. Methanol fuel reduces sulphur oxides by approx 99% potentially offering an alternative to traditional marine fuels to meet new regulations.