Maersk and Mitsui plan first methanol bunkering in Singapore for next year

Maersk Oil Trading has teamed up with Japan's Mitsui to explore how they can kick off methanol bunkering in Singapore.

PHOTO: Maersk aims to operate 19 methanol-powered vessels by 2025. Maersk

The two shipping and trading conglomerates will study bunker logistics in Singapore, which is by far the world's biggest bunker port today.

Singapore's port authority wants to cement that position and has recently entered into several partnerships to lay the groundwork for bunkering of methanol, ammonia and other low- and zero-carbon fuels of the future.

Maersk and Mitsui says green methanol is a promising alternative fuel for vessels to consume towards upcoming emissions reduction targets. They have set early 2023 as the target for a first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation.

Together with classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), they will study how methanol bunker vessels can be designed, how methanol can be stored and operational procedures for safe handling of methanol.

ABS will perform an operational risk assessment of methanol bunkering.

The project will help safely deliver green methanol to A.P Moller - Maersk's upcoming methanol-powered fleet, says Maersk Oil Trading head Mikkel Kannegard.

Just today, A.P Moller - Maersk announced an order of an additional six methanol-powered container ships, which will bring its total methanol-powered fleet to 19 when they are all delivered.

Mitsui also looks forward to establish a platform for bunkering of methanol as an alternative to conventional bunker fuels in Singapore, its executive vice president Yoshio Kometani says.

By Konica Bhatt

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