Costa, one of Carnival Corporation’s European brands along with AIDA, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with methanol producer Proman, to drive further the implementation of methanol as a marine fuel for the cruise industry.
The partnership aims to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation of the existing fleet by enhancing the supply of sustainable methanol, paving the way for the retrofitting of existing vessels to operate on clean fuel, as well as investment in further methanol-fuelled new builds. The MoU is considered to reaffirm methanol’s potential to play a key role in the reduction of GHG emissions of the cruise sector and other shipping segments. It is a cleaner-burning fuel which virtually eliminates airborne pollutants such as particulate matter and SOx. It is widely available and increasingly produced via lower-carbon, biogenic or hydrogen-based pathways. When used in fuel cells, methanol has the potential to allow for lifecycle zero emissions in the near future.
Methanol is emerging as an alternative fuel to meet GHG reduction goals due to its easy-to-handle properties, making it attractive for both newbuilds and for retrofitting existing ships. As one of the most widely traded chemical commodities, the infrastructure for ship supply could be adapted from existing infrastructure. All forms of methanol, whether natural-gas based, low-carbon or renewable, can be blended regardless of production pathways. It therefore enables a reliable transition pathway from today to fully GHG neutral cruise ships in near future.
Tim Cornelius, Proman MD Corporate Development, said: “The technology to retrofit a vessel to accept methanol as a fuel is available today. Our methanol products can facilitate the transition to low carbon intensity fuels. Methanol-powered vessels have a proven track record of reducing and eliminating major greenhouse gas emissions, delivering immediate air quality improvements around major ports and shipping lanes. We are excited to bring our expertise along the full methanol value chain to help deliver on Costa Group’s bold ambitions.”
Costa Group has implemented sustainability by steadily pioneering advanced technologies on board its new and existing ships. The company says it was the first to introduce LNG propulsion for emission reduction with four ships already in service in the Costa Group fleet. The majority of Costa Group ships are equipped with shore power capabilities to be zero emissions in ports where the technology is available, and the company has performed tests on biofuels.
Dr Christoph Schladoer, VP Decarbonisation, Costa Group said: “We are reducing the carbon footprint of our fleet while at port and at sea, investing in advanced environmental technologies and partnering with companies such as Proman who share a passion for sustainable energy transition. By enabling cruise ships to use methanol as a propulsion fuel, Costa follows the ambition to take the next big step towards GHG neutral operations of our fleet by 2050.”
