Alewijnse reveals progress of Fugro Pioneer’s conversion to methanol

Dutch systems integrator Alewijnse is taking part in Fugro’s project to convert the research vessel Fugro Pioneer to a methanol operation.

The conversion of the 2014-built Fugro Pioneer geophysical vessel is the result of the Fugro-led consortium Methanol as a Step Towards Emission-Free Dutch Shipping (MENENS), with a grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

It aims to accelerate the transition to emissions-free shipping by developing adaptive system solutions based on methanol. Green methanol delivers a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional fuels. It is seen in the international maritime sector as one of the most feasible alternative fuels for large-scale introduction in the short to medium term.

As informed, the first phase of the conversion of the Bahamas-flagged Fugro Pioneer to methanol has been completed at the Niestern Sander shipyard in Delfzijl. Preparatory work has been carried out for the replacement of two of the four original marine gas oil (MGO) engines with methanol equivalents. The remaining two engines will continue to run on diesel for the time being, allowing Fugro to also offer services in regions where green methanol is not yet available. The delivery and installation of the methanol engines are planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

Alewijnse is in charge of electrical engineering and automation, which are necessary for one of the ‘world’s first’ projects of this kind.

“Converting a ship to methanol propulsion requires a significant change in its electrical systems,” Jim Stolk, Alewijnse account manager explained.

“For that reason, Alewijnse has a substantial role in the Fugro Pioneer project. We are supplying and installing a new Alarm Monitoring and Control System (AMCS) and making adjustments to the power management, fire protection, and CCTV surveillance systems. An essential part of the work also includes the electrical installation for the new methanol bunkering station, including the placement of fixtures and switches.”

“Sustainability is not the only important aspect of this project; safety is also paramount,” Stolk continued.

“Methanol is a superior fuel compared to hydrocarbons because emissions of particulate matter, sulphur, and NOx can be reduced by up to 90%. This is because methanol burns more completely than, for example, gas oil. However, both the liquid and vapour forms are highly flammable. For this reason, we use special PLCs to monitor safety and potential fire risks during the combustion process.”

“Alewijnse has extensive experience in converting ships to the use of alternative fuels, such as the Samuel de Champlain. Europe’s first dredging vessel to be converted to a dual-fuel application, the ship’s engines run on both MGO and LNG,” Ben Bonte, Alewijnse’s refit manager said.

“Other examples are the crew transfer vessels Hydrocat 48 and 55,” Bertran Smit, Alewijnse project manager added.

“These vessels in the Windcat series run on both diesel and hydrogen.”

“Everything on the ship has been prepared for the installation of the new methanol engines. We have carried out these tasks efficiently, concurrently with the five-yearly maintenance inspection. Preparations for installing the AMCS are already in full swing. Once our engineering team completes the design, we will be able to install the system in the coming months while the ship is at sea. The actual switch to the new AMCS and the installation of the new methanol engines are scheduled for Q4 of this year,” Bonte further said.

A vision for a cleaner future

The two companies have been collaborating on sustainable projects for several years.

“We aim to create sustainable relationships based on mutual trust. This new project builds on our previous collaborations with Fugro. We are optimistic about the future and hope to contribute our expertise to their activities that facilitate the energy transition,” Stolk pointed out.

“This is an important and concrete step by Fugro towards our ambition of climate neutrality by 2035. The Fugro Pioneer will operate using sustainable methanol fuel and will be equipped with innovative vessel automation to carry out our geotechnical work safely and efficiently worldwide,” Remko Kloos, Global Director Fleet Services at Fugro, noted.

Fugro Pioneer is a specialist survey and research vessel built for collecting geodata about the seabed in preparation for the construction of offshore wind farms. After the installation of the new methanol engines, the ship will be deployed on projects in European waters.