Disney has bought a cruise ship that will be powered by “green” methanol

Disney has bought a cruise liner, formerly known as Global Dream, from the bankrupt German shipyard MV Werften, DPA reported.

The entertainment giant indicated that the ship will be given a new name and will be partially redesigned according to the Disney concept.

Construction will be completed at the Wismar shipyard, formerly owned by Em Fau Werfen and now under the administrative management of Meyer Werft.

The 208,000 gross tonnage vessel is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be powered by “green” methanol, one of the lowest-emission fuels available.

Disney Cruise Line expects it to be able to carry about 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew.

The ship, which will be based outside the US, will be decked out “in the flotilla’s iconic Mickey Mouse-inspired colors,” complete with signature red chimneys.

The vessel, which is 75 percent complete, was originally intended for the Asian market by the shipyard’s previous owner, Chinese cruise group Genting Hong Kong. During the pandemic, however, the shipyard and then the parent company went bankrupt.

This so-called “green methanol” is environmentally friendly and can be used as an energy carrier for storing electricity generated from renewable sources or as a transportation fuel. Besides LNG and ammonia, green methanol is also considered as a substitute fuel for maritime fuel applications. Green methanol is a low-carbon fuel that can be made from either biomass gasification or renewable electricity and captured carbon dioxide (CO₂). This is an exciting step, as the announcement could help to scale up climate-friendly methanol technology.

Photo by Terry Kelly: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-cruise-ship-on-sea-5133249/