Diana Shipping, a distinguished maritime company based in Greece, is currently in the process of acquiring tonnage that operates on methanol. Diana Shipping has declared, via a recent online statement, that they have entered a letter of intent with the globally recognized Marubeni Corporation. Their collective goal is to procure two 81,200 DWT dual-fuelled Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers, which function using methanol.
Investing in Environmentally-friendly Carriers
Each vessel comes with a price tag of $46 million and will be constructed by the respected Tsuneishi Group Shipbuilding, based in China. As per the anticipated timeline, the carriers are set to sail in the latter half of 2027 and the first half of 2028, respectively.
Semiramis Paliou, the CEO of Diana Shipping, has articulated her pride regarding the company’s leadership position in the industry. She emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, “This undertaking reflects our commitment to sustainable shipping, placing us favorably to adjust to the changing demands within our industry and mitigate our carbon footprint.”
Methanol: The Marine Fuel of the Box
Methanol has been steadily gaining traction as a preferred alternative to conventional marine fuel. The rising popularity of methanol-powered tonnage has resulted in frequent orders pouring in from diverse marine segments. This green fuel variant offers promise for the maritime industry.
The Challenges Ahead
However, challenges loom large for the booming eco-friendly marine fuel. The key barrier to pervasive use includes the scalable production of green methanol to meet the demands of new ships scheduled for delivery. Therefore, the industry must gear up to tackle these issues head-on before these majestic methanol-enabled vessels grace the sea waters.
