Sinopec successfully completes largest methanol bunkering operation in China

Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum on Sunday (13 October) successfully completed the largest single bunkering of methanol bunker fuel for ships in China. 

Sinopec conducted a truck-to-ship bunkering operation, delivering 937.68 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol bunker fuel to the large container vessel Maersk Halifax at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard. 

“This achievement marks the successful establishment of a methanol bunkering process from trucks to ships at Zhoushan Port and demonstrates Sinopec’s capability to provide regular supplies of methanol fuel for ships, thereby elevating the port’s supporting services to a new level,” Sinopec said in a statement to Manifold Times.

Sinopec overcame the challenge of methanol transportation from Ningbo to Zhoushan through combined road and water transport. 

The company independently developed and manufactured marine methanol bunkering skids and formulated a comprehensive Technical Plan and Emergency Response Plan for Methanol Bunkering from Tank Trucks to Methanol-Powered Ships at dock.

“As the inaugural bunkering for Maersk’s globally pioneering large container ship retrofitted to use methanol as a dual fuel, this milestone will serve as a model for subsequent methanol-powered ship retrofitting projects, firmly establishing China’s capability to supply and safeguard methanol fuel and boosting confidence in the industry’s adoption of methanol as an alternative fuel,” the company added.

Photo credit: Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum
Published: 25 October 2024