In Louisiana, Proman Stena Bulk, the joint venture between tanker company Stena Bulk and the methanol producer Proman, has formally christened its state-of-the-art methanol-fuelled 49,900 DWT tanker Stena Pro Marine. The ceremony took place at the Port of New Orleans, and marked another significant milestone for the methanol-fuelled joint venture fleet.
Delivered in mid-2022, Stena Pro Marine is a 49,990 DWT dual-fuel mid-range (MR) tanker. The vessel was constructed at Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd (GSI) in China. The ship has been in full-time operation since its delivery and consumes 12,500 tonnes of methanol annually.
Burning methanol onboard eliminates local pollutants like SOx and Particulate Matter (PM), reduces NOx emissions by 80%, and lowers CO2 emissions by up to 15% on a tank to wake basis compared to conventional marine fuels. Given the Port of New Orleans’ standing as a leading US cruise port, and close proximity to the city, the ceremony also offered an opportunity to highlight the potential to substantially mitigate local air pollution, offering a technology-proven and sustainable solution for the high volume of cruise and cargo traffic.