Improving crew safety in handling methanol as a fuel

BACKGROUND
Methanol has gained global attention as a viable alternative, low-carbon fuel for the maritime industry as new methanol fuelled ships and bunker barges are ordered or converted. Singapore successfully conducted the world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering in July 2023, and more such operations will occur in Ports & Terminals globally. How might we ensure that crew safely handles methanol as a fuel with the latest safety technology?

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM

• Methanol is highly flammable, toxic and fires are invisible to the eyes.
• It has a faint alcohol odour, and its presence can only be detected by the human nose at 2000ppm, which is 10 times the safe limit.
• There are increased risks of using methanol as a fuel as it is more flammable than conventional fuel.
• Singapore has one of the world’s highest frequencies of lightning strikes, so significant concerns exist on methanol fumes being ignited during bunkering.

POTENTIAL MARKET SIZE

• Applicable to crew onboard methanol fuelled vessels and bunker barges which are estimated to reach 1,200 ships globally by the year 2030. Many more ship owners are converting their existing fleet to fuel their ships with Methanol.
• Terminal workers and truck operators who are involved in the bunkering process will also face similar challenges.

EXISTING EFFORTS

• Personal gas detectors only measure limited types of gases of a certain concentration.
• Current sensors are mainly designed and rated for petrochemical plants, and few are designed for ships and seafarers.

SOLUTION SUCCESS PARAMETERS

• Cost of ownership.
• Ability to detect leakages of methanol vapours and invisible flames from ignition.
• Has to be real-time, taking into account the possibility of limited connectivity onboard ships.
• Ability to alert crew and/or ship manager before crew enters high-risk areas.
• Has to be marinised.
• Should be easy to maintain and calibrate.

POTENTIAL SOLUTION SPACES

• End to end systems and network for sensing methanol leaks.
• More effective technology to mitigate the dispersion of methanol fumes out of the vessel.
• Bunkering vapour return system for capturing methanol fumes.
• Robotics for ship operations especially for the engine room, pump room, and other enclosed spaces.
• Metaverse training for crew to raise awareness about precautionary measures.
• Improved ship design to reduce leakage of methanol.
• Video analytics that can pick up methanol leakage.