Written by
Nick Blenkey
An Ocean Infinity Armada 78 meter lean-crewed offshore service vessel might be utilized in Cummins methanol conversion package challenge. [Image: Ocean Infinity]
Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) experiences that its proposal to develop a methanol retrofit package for its QSK60 engine has been awarded GBP 4.4 million (about $5.36 million) in complete funding by way of the U.Ok. Authorities’s Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competitors.
Considered one of solely 10 chosen beneath the ZEVI competitors, the challenge will see Cummins and its challenge companions — Ocean Infinity, the Aberdeen Harbor Board, and Proman AG — deploy deploy a U.Ok.-designed and constructed methanol retrofit package for a high-horsepower marine inside combustion engine, giving the U.Ok. an vital foothold in enabling the transition to cleaner maritime fuels.
“Cummins is honored to be chosen by the UK Authorities in help of this twin gasoline challenge that aligns effectively with our bridge applied sciences technique,” mentioned Mark Bargent, Cummins expertise structure and planning director. “We stay dedicated to serving to the maritime sector attain its purpose of fifty% reductions in greenhouse gasoline emissions by 2050, as required by the IMO. To get there, shipbuilders want a roadmap for his or her decarbonization plans.”
As a part of the consortium, Ocean Infinity will present one in all its Armada 78 meter lean-crewed hybrid offshore service vessels for Cummins to design, develop, and take a look at the twin gasoline HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) and methanol expertise. Earlier this quarter, Cummins introduced the approval of unblended paraffinic fuels — sometimes called renewable diesel, together with HVO — in all its excessive horsepower engines for all industrial functions.
“Ocean Infinity exists to make use of modern expertise to remodel operations at sea for the advantage of folks and the planet,” mentioned Ocean Infinity’s chief expertise officer Josh Broussard. “This challenge kinds a part of our wider future fuels technique concentrating on a transition from conventional vitality sources to low carbon options to in the end reduce the environmental influence of our ship operations. Our technique consists of superior bio-fuels, reminiscent of HVO and methanol, to bridge the hole earlier than finally growing ammonia sooner or later.”
The Port of Aberdeen — which has ambitions to grow to be Scotland’s premier web zero port — is offering its services and providers for testing the vessel, whereas Proman AG will contribute its experience in methanol manufacturing and the event of ultra-low carbon methanol manufacturing.
On completion within the second quarter of 2025, the methanol retrofit package challenge targets a discount in CO2 emissions of fifty% for offshore operations of the vessel with NOx, SOx and PM at ranges significantly under these emitted by typical gasoline. Aditionally, all retrofitted dual-fuel engines might be compliant with IMO Tier III emission requirements.
“This challenge, with its deal with the conversion of current engine installations, provides a seamless transition between at the moment and the longer term builds of recent, cleaner expertise ships,” mentioned Molly Puga, government director – technique, product planning & digital at Cummins. “It dismisses the necessity for a significant vessel overhaul and creates a direct constructive influence on carbon emissions discount in all environmental and working circumstances, in the end serving to the maritime sector meet our international local weather wants.”
