Port of Singapore reported that Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd successfully conducted the world's first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation on July 27, 2023, at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said this is Singapore's first methanol bunkering operation.

Maersk's container vessel — the world's first container vessel sailing on green methanol — was successfully refuelled with approximately 300 metric tonnes of bio-methanol via Hong Lam Marine's Singapore-registered tanker, MT Agility, for its onward maiden passage to Copenhagen. 

MT Agility had earlier taken bio-methanol stored at Vopak Terminals. The container vessel will be named in a ceremony in Copenhagen in September.

In preparation for the methanol bunkering operation in Singapore, MPA said it worked with over 28 agencies, partners and institutes to organise tabletop exercises (TTX) and workshops before carrying out a Ground Deployment Exercise (GDX).

The first TTX was held during Singapore Maritime Week 2023 to identify safety measures and clarify roles and responsibilities for a coordinated cross-agency response to a methanol incident at sea. A separate Hazard Identification (HAZID) and Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) workshop was conducted to identify potential risks and develop corresponding prevention, control, and mitigation methods.

These were further evaluated during a second TTX and a GDX at sea in July 2023 with various stakeholders and government agencies.

MPA said a Technical Reference (TR) for methanol bunkering is being developed by MPA in consultation with the Standards Development Organisation at Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SDO@SCIC) — which will cover the refuelling requirements, operational and safety requirements for delivery of methanol from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, crew training and competency.

Aside from the development of the Technical Reference, MPA will continue to develop other operational and safety protocols, licensing requirements, training of seafarers and professionals, and study infrastructure needs, such as terminal facilities and methanol carrying bunker tankers, to fully operationalise methanol bunkering.

Learnings from the bunkering operation will also be presented to partners and international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization later this year to support the safe adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.

"The successful completion of the methanol bunkering operation is a significant milestone for Singapore's development towards a multi-fuel future and a testament to Singapore's commitment as the world's largest bunkering hub to meet the new marine fuel needs of international shipping," MPA said.

It added that more methanol bunkering operations are being planned in the coming year as methanol-enabled vessels are delivered globally. 

"The success of the methanol bunkering operation is a result of nearly a year's preparations with various government agencies, research institutes, international collaborators,  and industry to develop rigorous safety procedures through in-depth operational and risk assessments, modelling and validation," said Teo Eng Dih, chief executive, MPA.

"This operation will help inform the development of the various standards, including the Technical Reference for methanol bunkering operations in Singapore, and guide our approach for future pilots and trials of new marine fuels," he added, noting that these efforts will help accelerate maritime decarbonisation.

Morten Bo Christensen, head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said the move is "an important step in our efforts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040."

"It will allow us to gain the necessary operational experience to operate the new engines and the fuel provided by OCI Global ahead of the arrival of our larger methanol-enabled vessels in the coming years," Christensen said.

Lim Teck Cheng, executive chairman of Hong Lam Marine, said the company is "deeply honoured to be a part of Singapore's first STS methanol bunkering."

"This goes with our absolute commitment to provide a safe and environmentally friendly option to decarbonise the marine industry in line with IMO's GHG emissions targets," he added.