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Yes, but...
Currently, the methanol used on board the Stena Germanica – the only current vessel employing methanol in the world– is produced by natural gas synthesis, as is most of the methanol produced in the world today.
It might very well be a big improvement of what's used otherwise, but one always has to be careful in assessing where stuff comes from and what the downsides of its respective production are.
SwissChap-
I agree,
which is why my link did not suggest 'bio-methanol'.
I believe the operators of large vessels will switch to methanol,
to reduce the NOx & SOx emissions from standard, (high Sulphur fuel oils).
Some are ordering new build vessels with twin fuel capability.Potentially they are waiting for someone to devise a method of making bio-methanol from a waste stream, (say bio-digested post consumer food waste).
mespilus
Methanol as a marine fuel