Houlder is pleased to announce significant progress in its involvement in the SPINE project, with the design of a 10,000 cbm methanol bunkering vessel. The SPINE project, supported by MarRI-UK under the Smart Maritime Land Operations Call, brings together a consortium of organisations, led by MSE International, focusing on energy and autonomy in the maritime industry.

The project aims to establish an interface between ships, remote control centres, port operating systems, and national energy infrastructure to address challenges in maritime decarbonisation and autonomy. By integrating key elements of UK government policy, SPINE contributes to the realisation of Maritime 2050 objectives.

The methanol bunkering vessel design includes semi-automated crane systems for supplying methanol to other ships of a wide size range, including cruise and large container vessels. This design represents a key milestone in the development of methanol infrastructure and a strategic step towards wider alternative fuel bunkering in maritime decarbonisation.

“Entering the SPINE project, Houlder aimed to expand its influence in the research and development activities around alternative fuels,” said Arun Pillai, Project Director at Houlder. “Completion of this design project involved detailed analyses to ensure compliance with stringent regulations governing methanol as both fuel and cargo, reaffirming Houlder’s expertise in this area.”
 

For more information on the Houlder design please click here.

For information on the SPINE project click here.