| MOL methanol carriers to be dual-fuelled |
| Two methanol carriers that Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) is building will be fitted with the world’s first dual-fuel engines that run on methanol and diesel. The 50,000 dwt tankers, under construction at Minaminippon Shipbuilding, will be delivered in March and June 2016, after which the vessels will service long-term shipping contracts with Waterfront Shipping, a subsidiary of Methanex Corporation. The engines were made by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding. Methanol is an alternative to oil-based fuel, resulting in lower emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide when burning. The tankers will also be among the earliest vessels to install the ballast water treatment system and energy-saving devices fin at the front and behind the propellers to help improve fuel efficiency. The decision to install the dual-fuel engine followed a study done by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. |