Port of Auckland orders new methanol bunkering tanker

New Zealand’s Port of Auckland's bunkering services subsidiary Seafuels has ordered a new bunkering vessel capable of supplying methanol and biodiesel as bunker fuel.

IMAGE: Containers seen in the dockyard in Auckland. Port of Auckland

Apart from the renewable fuels, the new vessel will also be capable of supplying other conventional fuels like VLSFO and LSMGO.

The 88.8 metre IMO class II chemical tanker will be built at Turkey’s Ada Shipyard and is expected to be delivered in late 2027. Upon delivery, it will begin a long-term charter with a large fuel supplier, Port of Auckland said.

It will replace Seafuels’ older bunkering vessel Awanuia, which has supplied VLSFO and LSMGO in Auckland for 18 years.

According to Seafuels’ website, Awanuia is the only vessel offering bunkering services in the Auckland region and the fuel is supplied through BP Marine.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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