Costa Group partners with Proman to drive methanol supply

Costa’s partnership with the methanol producer aims to drive decarbonisation of the existing fleet by enhancing the supply of sustainable methanol, paving the way for retrofitting vessels to operate on clean fuel, as well as investment in further methanol-fueled newbuilds.

‘We are reducing the carbon footprint of our fleet while at port and at sea, investing in advanced environmental technologies and partnering with companies such as Proman who share a passion for sustainable energy transition,’ said Christoph Schladoer, VP decarbonisation, Costa Group. 

‘By enabling cruise ships to use methanol as a propulsion fuel, Costa follows the ambition to take the next big step towards greenhouse gas (GHG) neutral operations of our fleet by 2050.’ 

Costa has a track record of developing and utilising new, greener technologies. It was the first to introduce full LNG propulsion for emission reduction with AIDAnova in 2018, with a total four ships currently using LNG across the Costa Group fleet. The majority of Costa Group ships are also equipped for shore power, and the company was among the first to test biofuels.

More about methanol

Methanol virtually eliminates airborne pollutants such as particulate matter and sulphur oxides and is widely available and increasingly produced via lower-carbon, biogenic or hydrogen-based pathways. When used in fuel cells, it has the potential to allow for lifecycle zero emissions in the near future.

It is emerging as a leading alternative fuel to meet GHG reduction goals due to its easy-to-handle properties, making it suitable for both new builds and for refitting existing ships. Since it is one of the most widely traded chemical commodities, the infrastructure for cruise ship supply could be adapted from existing infrastructure.

‘The technology to retrofit a vessel to accept methanol as a fuel is available today,’ explained Tim Cornelius, MD corporate development, Proman. ‘Our methanol products can facilitate the transition to low carbon intensity fuels.’ 

He added, ‘Methanol-powered vessels have a proven track record of reducing and eliminating major greenhouse gas emissions, delivering immediate air quality improvements around major ports and shipping lanes. We are excited to bring our expertise along the full methanol value chain to help deliver on Costa Group’s bold ambitions.’

All forms of methanol, whether natural-gas based, low-carbon or renewable, can be blended regardless of production pathways.