OOCL’s 24,000 TEU vessel, Wisdom, begins Europe service following its first green methanol bunkering, highlighting both the progress and continuing commercial challenges facing alternative fuels.
OOCL has completed the first green methanol bunkering of its new dual-fuel container ship OOCL Wisdom at Qingdao Port before the vessel departed on its maiden voyage to Europe.
The 24,168 TEU vessel is the first of seven methanol dual-fuel ultra-large container ships being introduced by the carrier and is currently the world’s largest methanol-capable containership. It will operate on OOCL’s Asia–North Europe service.
The successful bunkering operation demonstrates that the vessel is technically capable of handling green methanol. Whether the ship continues to operate regularly on the fuel, however, will depend less on technology and more on economics.
Despite continuing investment in methanol-capable tonnage, green methanol remains significantly more expensive than conventional marine fuels, and is available in limited volumes from a restricted number of ports. As a result, many dual-fuel vessels currently operate primarily on traditional fuels, switching to methanol only when the fuel is available, or where commercial, regulatory or customer requirements justify the additional cost.
That is becoming an increasingly important factor as the global dual-fuel fleet expands. The industry’s challenge is no longer proving that methanol can be used safely as a marine fuel, but in creating the conditions under which owners can justify using it routinely. Against that backdrop, the Qingdao bunkering of OOCL Wisdom represents another step in the gradual development of the infrastructure needed to support future demand.
For OOCL, the vessel forms part of a broader fleet renewal programme that provides optionality rather than an immediate transition away from conventional fuels. The six sister ships currently under construction will give the carrier the flexibility to increase methanol use as fuel availability improves and the commercial case strengthens.
OOCL Wisdom’s maiden voyage shows that the technology is ready. Whether the vessel continues to operate regularly on green methanol after the publicity surrounding its maiden voyage fades will depend on whether customers will pay for its use or regulation enables it.
OOCL Wisdom maybe the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel container vessel, but in shipping bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to the bunker bill.
