Singapore-based tanker owner Hafnia and its joint-venture partner Socatra have welcomed the first dual-fuel methanol chemical IMOII medium-range (MR) tanker to the fleet.
The 49,800 dwt newbuild Ecomar Gascogne is the first of four dual-fuel methanol tankers ordered by the joint venture at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China.
As disclosed previously, the remaining three vessels are scheduled for delivery across 2025 and 2026. All four tankers will be chartered by French energy giant TotalEnergies for a multi-year period.
The dual-fuel methanol tanker quarter is expected to mark an important step in Hafnia’s decarbonization journey, bringing the option for methanol fuel to reduce emissions over time. As dual-fuel vessels, these ships can use both conventional fuel and methanol, enabling a transition to more sustainable fuel options as green methanol becomes more widely available.
Just recently, Hafnia revealed it had been exploring new concepts to boost the newbuilds’ environmental footprint, namely shaft generators and wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), with space allocated for rotor sails.
The vessels will also equipped for future shore power connections, with dedicated areas in the engine room to accommodate transformer sections for high-voltage shore power, contingent on infrastructure capabilities at ports.
In other company-related news, ten chemical tankers in Hafnia’s fleet are about to undergo a tank recoating program under a recently signed contract with Ohio-based manufacturer Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC).
The deal will see APC’s MarineLINE coating system applied to tankers brought into Hafnia’s fleet through acquisitions in January 2022.