Photo credit: Stena Bulk
Proman Stena Bulk, the joint venture between leading tanker company Stena Bulk and the leading methanol producer Proman, has in China christened today “Stena Provident” and “Stena Progressive” as the final two vessels in its initial six-strong methanol-fuelled tanker fleet.
The two 49,900 dwt tankers were named at a ceremony held at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China, and was attended by representatives from Proman, Stena Bulk and GSI, as well as from the local maritime community in southern China.
The decision to name the final two vessels at GSI recognises the shipyard’s pivotal role in the construction of the six joint venture methanol tankers which was executed by the shipyard over the last three years, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The naming ceremony of the two tankers also saw Miss Alicia Schnabel named as the godmother of “Stena Provident”, and Ambassador Marie-Claire Swärd Capra, Consul General of Sweden in Shanghai, named as the godmother of “Stena Progressive”.
Both vessels are 49,990 dwt dual-fuel mid-range (MR) tankers, with tanks equipped with the industry’s best-in-class high performance polymer MarineLINE cargo tank lining, affording them greater cargo flexibility.
As the vessels are set to be time chartered, this means that a greater range of organisations and charterers will be able to build experience operating with methanol-fuelled ships and realise near-term positive sustainability impacts.
Once operational, the ships will consume 12,000 tonnes of methanol annually, realising reduced NOx emissions by 80%, the virtual elimination of SOx and Particulate Matter (PM), and a CO2 emissions reduction of 15% on a tank-to-wake basis compared to conventional marine fuels.
David Cassidy, chief executive of Proman, said: “Naming “Stena Provident” and “Stena Progressive” at GSI is a fantastic milestone for the Proman Stena Bulk joint venture. We now have a market-leading fleet of futureproofed methanol tankers that clearly show the way for methanol as a marine fuel.”
“That these two tankers will be time-chartered means that more players across the market can familiarise themselves with methanol and the considerable near-term benefits it can bring to their operations. We look forward to working with partners across the supply chain to continue demonstrating the upsides of using methanol today.”
Erik Hånell, president and chief executive of Stena Bulk, noted: “Naming “Stena Provident” and “Stena Progressive” at GSI provides us with the perfect opportunity to celebrate the pivotal role that the shipyard has played in realising our joint venture methanol-fuelled tanker fleet. Together, Stena Bulk, Proman and GSI have developed unique and industry-leading experience about how to make methanol shipping a reality; an experience that we hope to share more widely across our sector as we all work together to reach the ambitious decarbonisation targets set out before us.”
