Photo courtesy Damen
Dutch shipbuilder Damen, in collaboration with classification society Bureau Veritas, has developed and gained approval in principle for designs of methanol-powered workboats.
The project, which began in the summer of 2022, aimed to create designs that meet safety standards equivalent to their diesel-fueled counterparts.
Damen worked closely with Bureau Veritas, as well as the Dutch and Belgian flag authorities, to ensure the applicability of methanol-powered workboats across a wide range of vessel types, including tugs, dredgers, high-speed vessels, crew suppliers, pilot boats, stan patrols, and fast ferries
The design modifications aimed to ensure safety standards similar to diesel-fueled vessels by replacing irrelevant rules, analyzing risks, and developing standardized solutions.
Approvals were obtained with the involvement of the Netherlands and Belgium, which have experience with sustainable workboats. A Hazard Identification Workshop facilitated the approval process, resulting in relatively quick approval.
“We are very pleased to now have the approvals in principle,” says Pieter Spruijt, Technical Specialist Alternative Fuels and Damen System Owner Methanol Systems. “One of the interesting outcomes of the design process is that the methanol storage and fuel systems will take up less space than they would have under the prescriptive rules. Small vessels present a real challenge with space at such a premium, but our designs will not only keep the vessels compact, they will also be more sustainable as they will not require additional inputs when being built. This is another step forward in Damen’s ambition to be the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder.”
Herman Spilker, Vice President North Europe at Bureau Veritas, commended the successful approval in principle and the innovative technical solutions developed for compact ships. “We look forward to assisting Damen in the construction of the inaugural unit,” he said.
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