Klaipeda Designs Green Methanol Bunkering Vessel Concept | Mariner News
Klaipeda, Lithuania, is advancing its green methanol bunkering capabilities with the development of a new bunkering vessel concept designed to supply ships with alternative fuel in the Baltic Sea. This move signifies a practical shift from feasibility analysis to tangible infrastructure planning for the port.
The Klaipeda Port Authority assessed the potential for green methanol bunkering as part of the H2DeriBSP project, collaborating with 14 international partners. The study encompassed demand forecasts, regulatory landscapes, potential customers, supply chains, and environmental benefits of green methanol.
While analysis indicated the green methanol market in the Baltic region remains in its early stages, the port concluded that offering alternative fuel bunkering could enhance its attractiveness to shipping lines and unlock new business opportunities.
Following this assessment, the project progressed to a practical vessel design. Western Baltic Engineering, a division of the Western Shipyard Group, developed the technical specifications and concept design for the green methanol bunkering vessel. The proposed vessel would have a capacity for 800 metric tonnes of green methanol.
Designed for operation in shallow waters and local bunkering routes, the vessel concept aims to support an annual supply capacity of up to 250,000 metric tonnes of green methanol. This specialized design indicates a strategic focus on serving regional shipping and vessels with specific operational requirements, while also signaling Klaipeda’s commitment to establishing significant bunkering infrastructure for future demand growth in the nascent Baltic market.
