RINA grants Approval in Principle to space-saving methanol superstorage technology
10 Apr 2025
SRC’s Methanol Superstorage paves the way for wider methanol adoption in ship fuel systems with enhanced safety and efficiency
Methanol is rapidly gaining traction as a next-generation marine fuel, particularly in light of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net Zero ambition for 2050. Although methanol is relatively simple to handle and store, its lower energy density compared to traditional heavy fuel oil (HFO) presents challenges for ship design and operational range. Existing regulations require a cofferdam structure between tank walls, which significantly reduces usable storage volume onboard.
SRC’s Methanol Superstorage overcomes this challenge with an innovative design.
By replacing the conventional cofferdam with a 25mm thick Sandwich Plate System (SPS), an elastomer core sealed between two steel plates, the technology delivers a triple-barrier containment solution that offers up to 85% more fuel volume within the same footprint.
We are glad to announce that SRC Group’s innovative Methanol Superstorage Technology has received our Approval in Principle (AiP).
Our AiP reflects the latest rules for ship classification and incorporates IMO’s interim guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1621) as well as updates to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The approval confirms that SRC’s system ensures an equivalent level of safety to existing requirements, while significantly improving storage efficiency across multiple ship types.
The AiP also affirms the design's compatibility with methanol and ethanol fuels, including the technical acceptance of key structural features such as perimeter bar connections. This development provides stakeholders with a high degree of confidence that the solution can be implemented without regulatory barriers during the detailed design phase.
With over 240 methanol-capable ships already in service or on order, the demand for safe, efficient, and retrofittable fuel storage systems is greater than ever. SRC’s Methanol Superstorage Technology, now validated by RINA, will play a crucial role in accelerating the decarbonisation of the global shipping fleet.
