En konvertering för framtiden - Metanol som ett fartygsbränsle, ur ett tekniskt-, säkerhetsmässigt- och hälsomässigt perspektiv

Abstract

This case study compares, from a technical, safety and health aspect, conventional ship fuels and methanol in the pilot project performed on Stena Germanica. Stena Line has today converted one of the four main engines onboard. The methanol is classified as a low flash-point fuel but is a liquid at a normal state and its characteristics is more similar to diesel than to most of the other low flash-point fuels. The result determines the technical differences in systems that follow a conversion such as this to ensure that methanol usage doesn’t entail an increase in health and accident risk. Systems concerning bunkering have not been taken in regard. What has been shown is that the methanol differs from conventional ship fuels concerning chemical structure, toxicity and fire properties. The methanol was seen, even before the preparing work for this project was started, as a dangerous substance, bearing in mind the low flash-point and acute toxicity. This has resulted in a rigorous thought process concerning safety when developing guidelines and later systems regarding methanol. After the measures taken onboard can the methanol in its self not be seen as a cause for increase of, safety and health risk compared to before the conversion. It demands that an understanding for the new fuel and the additional fuel- and safety systems is obtained by the operating staff. The methanol which is a clean fuel may even have a positive impact on for example firefighting and work environment.