Fire safety measures for methanol-fuelled ‘Germanica’

The fire risk assessment, based on SOLAS regulation 17 “Alternative design and arrangements, was conducted as part of the conversion project involving Stena, classification society Lloyd’s Register, Wärtsilä and ship designer ScandiNaos.

The vessel’s new fire safety design was approved by the Swedish flag last month, with fire protection installations commencing at the end of the month. According to SP, Stena believes that by managing each introduced fire hazard, safety has been not only maintained but improved during the conversion for methanol.

“The findings in this project and planed future research will facilitate for safer conversions to alternative and more environmentally friendly ship fuels,” said Franz Evegren, fire researcher, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.

Stena opted to convert

Germanica

to methanol in order to meet emission requirements in the Baltic Sea and avoid exhaust treatment. The fuel is easier to transport and handle than LNG as it is liquid at room temperature.

• See the March issue of The Motorship, out next month, for more on SP’s fire safety work with the methanol-powered Stena Germanica. Click here to subscribe.