ABS and two leading Singapore players in methanol fueling JDP

Written by Nick Blenkey
methanol fuel JDP

L to R: Tan Thai Yong, MD & CEO of PaxOcean; Hor Weng Yew, MD and CEO of PCL; John McDonald, ABS EVP and COO.

Singapore’s Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL) is among the growing number of vessel operators looking at methanol fueling as a path to decarbonization. Along with shipyard group PaxOcean Holdings Pte Ltd it is collaborating with ABS on a new joint development project (JDP).

Both PCI and PaxOcean are members of the Kuok Group.

Under the recently signed JDP, ABS will evaluate the means and impact of retrofitting a PCL vessel with a propulsion system powered by methanol as an alternative low-carbon fuel option.

“PCL and PaxOcean are forward-looking companies, and as a leader in maritime decarbonization, ABS is proud to be able to use our deep insight to support their sustainability journeys,” said John McDonald, ABS executive vice president and COO. “Methanol represents a promising fuel, with practical benefits related to ease of storage and handling, tank-to-wake carbon intensity reduction, as well as a pathway to carbon neutrality through green methanol.”

Hor Weng Yew, MD and CEO of PCL said, “This partnership with ABS and PaxOcean is part of PCL’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier. With methanol gaining maturity as a marine fuel, we believe it has great potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint in the short to mid-term. This study will serve to identify the options we have to adapt our existing ships to handle methanol effectively and safely.”

Tan Thai Yong, MD & CEO of PaxOcean said, “Our collaboration with PCL and ABS brings together collective expertise that allows us to work alongside to accelerate the potential use of methanol as a future alternative fuel for ships which will significantly reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint.”

  • The ABS document Requirements for Methanol and Ethanol Fueled Vessels is available for download HERE
  • ABS’s Setting the Course to Low Carbon Shipping: Zero Carbon Outlook is available for download HERE
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