Proman Stena Bulk has formally named its first newbuild IMOIIMeMAX methanol-fuelled 49,900 dwt vessel, ‘Stena Pro Patria’, in a ceremony hosted in Trinidad and Tobago.
Stena Pro Patria is the first of three methanol-fuelled vessels delivered in 2022 to the joint venture between tanker company Stena Bulk andmethanol producer Proman, with a further three newbuilds due for delivery between now and 2024.
Proman is the largest investor and employer in the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, which is home to Trinidad and Tobago’s downstream petrochemicals sector. Proman’s facilities include the M5000 methanol plant, which produces low-carbon methanol by recycling CO2 produced from nearby ammonia plants. Since 2006, almost 24m tonnes of CO2 have been captured from both Proman’s own and neighbouring ammonia plants and re-used.
Stena Pro Patria has demonstrated an unprecedently low EEDI value while running on methanol. The IMOIIMeMax vessel series benefits from design and technologies to maximise energy efficiency, resulting in an EEDI 11% below the 2025 Phase 3 requirements – said to set 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 12,500t of methanol as fuel per year, which will significantly reduce the volume of GHG emissions resulting from the vessel’s commercial operations compared to conventional marine fuels.
Erik Hånell, President and CEO Stena Bulk, 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. Finally, we must also recognise the role that Trinidad and Tobago has played in making this naming ceremony a reality. As an important methanol shipping hub, there was no better place to hold this important event for Stena Pro Patria and our joint venture.”
David Cassidy, CEO Proman, added: “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. Stena Pro Patria is a very special vessel, as the first tanker in our joint venture with Stena Bulk and due to her deeper connection to the Proman family. It was a pleasure to bring everyone together, from Stena to our wider partners and employees here in Trinidad and Tobago, to give Stena Pro Patria the naming ceremony that she deserves.”
