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METHANOL STORAGE provals from other classi? cation societies are ongoing, said Lilp, – including accommodation.” although he acknowledges that journey from AiP to full class ap- As of September 2023, methanol had been speci? ed for 216 proval is substantive. In an area where the regulations underlying newbuilds, according to ? gures from DNV, and Clarksons esti- fuel storage are evolving, additional scrutiny can be expected. mates that 1,200 ships could be powered by methanol by 2030. “Due to the regulatory status of low ? ash point fuels all Lilp says the most frequently asked question SRC has been methanol fuelled ships need to go through a Risk Based Certi- ? elding concerns whether Methanol Superstorage is as appro- ? cation process that includes full risk assessment for the whole priate for newbuildings as it is for retro? ts. “The answer is an methanol fuel system from bunkering station to the engines,” emphatic yes: fuel storage tanks can be constructed using the said Alex Vainokivi, Innovation Manager, SRC Group. “AiP SPS sandwich panel system in lieu of cofferdams on both new is part of the risk assessment. Any ? nal approval for a metha- build and re? t projects. We seek to open more direct channels nol fuelled ship comes from the Flag State Administration.” of communication for questions from major shipbuilders and

Nevertheless, key SPS technology characteristics are not in designers worldwide.” dispute. “For example, under ? re testing, and when the core thickness for SPS structure is more than 25mm it has satis? ed the ? re safety objectives and the functional requirements of

SOLAS A-60 regulations without the need to install thermal insulation,” says Vainokivi. “We will establish whether inerting and venting are need- ed on a case-by-case basis – and the same for ? re and leak- age detection – but the requirements relating to cofferdams can be dispensed with. From that perspective, the solution provides equivalent ‘triple barrier protection’ to prescriptive requirements for cofferdams adjacent to all space categories

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