Study: Existing Fire-Fighting Rules Need Overhaul for Methanol-Fueled Ships

While interest in methanol-fueled ships is growing rapidly as a means of addressing emissions, a new fire safety study reports that existing fire-fighting methods and regulations are not ready for methanol ships.  According to Survitec which conducted extensive comparative fire tests on dual-fuel marine engines using diesel oil (DO) and methanol, existing fire-fighting methods used to extinguish machinery space spray and pool fires on conventionally fueled vessels are inadequate when dealing with methanol-based fires. “Our tests confirm that traditional water mist fire suppression mechanisms do not perform as expected on methanol pool fires and methanol spray fires,” said Michal Sadzynski, Product Manager, Water Mist Systems, Survitec. “Methanol fires are far more aggressive than fires involving traditional hydrocarbon fuels. Methanol fires have different physicochemical properties and so they cannot be extinguished as easily or with the same approach.” Methanol is a methyl alcohol (CH3OH) that burns in a completely different way than hydrocarbon fuels and has a much lower flashpoint of 12°C (54°F), according to Survitec. They report their testing found that while water mist systems are highly effective in absorbing heat and displacing oxygen on diesel fires, they…

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Report: Houthis Made Political Deal with Russia and China for Safe Passage

For the second time this year, it is being reported that the Houthi militants in Yemen are promising safe passage for vessels associated with Russia and China while the group continues its daily assaults on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman. It is further evidence of the commenters’ view that the Houthis are using the war in Gaza as a lever to gain more prominence on the world stage. A political understanding has reportedly been reached between the Houthi and Russian and Chinese diplomats meeting in Oman according to unnamed sources cited in a story released by Bloomberg this morning. While the terms of the agreement are unknown, Bloomberg speculates that China and Russia promised further political support to the militants including possibly blocking resolutions at the UN Security Council in exchange for the promises of safe passage. Ships transiting the Red Sea informally began highlighting their association with China after the attacks began. They have included on their AIS signals messages such as “all Chinese crew” or highlighted destinations in China. This led to reports from Agence France Presse in January that a Houthi…

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First Bunkering and Tests of Ammonia as Marine Fuel Completed in Singapore

In what may be a pivotal moment in the future of alternative marine fuels, the world’s first bunkering of ammonia and tests of adapted engines took place in Singapore aboard an offshore supply vessel retrofitted by Australia’s Fortescue Group. The testing is ongoing helping to develop the information on safety and management that might one day see ammonia become one of the leading marine fuels. The tests were carried out with the Fortescue Green Pioneer, a 3,100 dwt vessel built in 2010 in Indonesia. Fortescue Future Industries acquired the now 14-year-old supply ship MMA Leveque early in 2022 from Australia-based MMA Offshore. It was originally outfitted with four diesel-electric Cummins main engines. Fortescue began in 2022 testing the conversion of a four-stroke engine to run on ammonia in combination with diesel as its pilot fuel. The tests took place at the company’s facility in Perth, Australia, and in July 2023 the conversion work on the vessel began at Seatrium’s Benoi yard. Two of the vessel’s four engines were enabled to use ammonia in the process which included the installation of the gas fuel delivery system, safety systems, and the infrastructure to support the…

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