American Bureau of Shipping, ENEOS Corporation, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and SEACOR Holdings Inc. have begun a joint study to develop a methanol bunkering and supply chain network along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The four parties aim to establish the first commercial-scale ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operations in the U.S. In the global maritime industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. And while the Trump administration has threatened any country or shipping company that supports those emissions reduction measures, the companies said “practical solutions are increasingly required.”
LNG is an unsustainable fuel that uses methane gas extracted from under the ground. Research has shown it has a 33% worse carbon footprint than coal. Biomethanol is made from a combination of methane and CO2 produced by decomposing organic waste. This can include used cooking oil and residues of forestry or farming. When it uses these materials–and doesn’t require deforestation or use virgin crops that could be used as food–it can be a low-carbon alternative fuel for shipping. It is even more sustainable when made with renewable energy. This is known as green methanol.
ENEOS, the companies said, will explore the procurement and supply of low-carbon methanol, including green methanol to be produced by C2X, a company in which ENEOS holds an equity stake, through the Beaver Lake Renewable Energy project in Louisiana.
NYK Line will leverage its experience in developing LNG bunkering infrastructure and provide technical expertise for preparing methanol bunkering vessels.
SEACOR will contribute its expertise as a long-term Jones Act qualified owner and operator of diversified assets across the U.S. coastwise and inland waterways. The Jones Act is a 1920 legislation that requires seaborne cargo shipped between two U.S. points to be carried by U.S.-built, crewed, and owned vessels. The company will also contribute its design, engineering and construction capabilities.
ABS will provide class and regulatory support needed to establish methanol bunkering operations in the U.S.
Through this initiative, ABS, ENEOS, NYK Line and SEACOR aim to help realize a carbon-neutral future for the maritime industry.
