Estonian State Fleet to Add Vessel Running on Biomethane
Estonia's State Fleet will soon acquire a new working vessel that runs on biomethane produced from cow manure. The ship, built by Baltic Workboats, features a unique fuel system with interchangeable containers.
The Estonian State Fleet is set to expand with a new working vessel that primarily runs on biomethane. The ship, built at the Baltic Workboats shipyard, is considered innovative both for the yard and on a global scale.
The fuel for the vessel will come from cows on Saaremaa – manure from local farms will be transported by tanker trucks to the Tahkula biogas plant. According to the plant's director, Lauri Jasmin, producing one container of fuel requires five truckloads, equivalent to the daily output of a large farm.
Compressed biomethane from cow manure will then be delivered to the ship in containers. Three containers will be onboard at any given time. Project manager Rando Varblane explained that the system is unique because it includes two sets of containers – six in total. Three are permanently on the vessel, while the other three can be sent for refilling at any biogas station in Estonia.
Depending on the vessel's speed, one container provides enough fuel for 300 to 500 nautical miles. Margus Vanaselja, chairman of the board at Baltic Workboats, stated that with 99% probability, this is an absolutely unique vessel worldwide. Estonian engineers designed the ship, and Estonian companies developed the extremely complex fuel system, which uses an internal combustion engine but runs on methane – specifically biomethane.
Captain Ernst Siniorg noted that for a captain, the type of fuel doesn't matter as long as there is sufficient power.
