Danish operator Scandlines is working with engineering giant Caterpillar to assess methanol as a fuel for its ferries.
If tests prove positive, it could retrofit engines on two ferries running between Germany and Denmark on the Rostock-Gedser route in 2027.
These vessels, the 22,300-gt Berlin and Copenhagen (both built 2016) already have marine batteries and Flettner rotors installed.
Caterpillar announced in 2022 that it was working on developing a methanol-diesel dual-fuel version of its 3500E engines and recently secured approval in principle for a methanol-ready design from DNV.
Scandlines is owned by infrastructure funds Igneo Infrastructure Partners, 3i Group and Federated Hermes and operates seven vessels on two routes between Denmark and Germany.
It will soon take delivery of the 15,000-gt Futura, a zero-emission ferry.
The €80m ($85m) vessel has a 10-MWh battery system and will make the crossing between Germany and Denmark in 45 minutes when it enters service early next year.
