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Towngas and Royal Vopak collaborate to expand green methanol supply chain network

‘Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said its Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.
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Towngas x Royal Vopak MT

Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Vopak China Management Co., Ltd. (Royal Vopak) on Tuesday (8 July) said both recently signed a strategic framework cooperation agreement to collaborate in areas such as green methanol production, storage, bunkering, and trading etc.

Focusing on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Asia-Pacific markets, both parties are joining forces to expand an efficient green methanol supply chain network and support the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.

The two parties will capitalise on their respective strengths to expand the supply network of green methanol.

Towngas employs proprietary technology to convert agricultural and forestry waste as well as scrap tyres into green methanol, and has obtained multiple international certifications and provides a sufficient supply of green methanol for maritime fuel bunkering.

Royal Vopak provides green methanol storage and terminal services with its comprehensive storage and terminal infrastructure and coastal port network advantages.

Together, the two parties will achieve efficient resource allocation and ship green methanol to the Greater Bay Area, East China, South China, and the broader Asia-Pacific markets, further expanding the green methanol supply chain network.

Towngas and Royal Vopak will further develop multiple areas of regional cooperation, including in the Greater Bay Area. By leveraging the strengths of the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the partnership will focus on “production and storage synergy” as its core to strengthen cooperation around logistics and terminal facility construction, and to build an integrated green methanol storage and transportation network.

In East China, the two parties will centre their collaboration in Shanghai and Ningbo, two major international ports, to further strengthen cooperation in logistics storage and bunkering facility construction to meet the growing demand for green fuels at both ports.

In the Bohai Bay region, with Tianjin as the strategic hub, Towngas will transport green methanol produced at its northern China production base to Royal Vopak’s local storage tank farm, then achieve resource allocation through the Royal Vopak’s distribution network, supporting the supply of green methanol from northern China to the national and Asia-Pacific markets.

The two parties will also target key export markets, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, to accelerate overseas expansion and boost the market competitiveness of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Towngas has recently completed a 6,000-tonne green methanol bunkering project, the largest in Asia,” said Sham Man-fai, Towngas Chief Operating Officer – Green Fuel and Chemicals.

“It was completed with the support of Royal Vopak’s Tianjin storage tank farm facilities, laying a solid foundation for this partnership.

“Towngas’s Inner Mongolia green methanol plant is set to increase its annual capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes by the end of this year, with plans to further expand to 300,000 tonnes by 2028. Together with Royal Vopak’s storage and terminal services infrastructure and coastal port network, the two parties will build a comprehensive green methanol supply chain network.”

 

Photo credit: Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Published: 8 July 2025

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Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands ops with new Shanghai branch office

The HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist E-Marine’s head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China.
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June 4, 2026

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E Marine Shanghai office front

Hong Kong-based marine fuel and lubricant trading company Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service Corporation Limited (E-Marine) on April 15 launched a branch office in Shanghai, learned Manifold Times.

The company HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist the head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China, Managing Director Darcy Wang told the bunkering publication.

“The Shanghai office serves as our China business support and coordination centre. It enables us to stay close to our customers, suppliers and business partners, while also providing access to a deep pool of industry talent,” he shared.

“This development is in line the target to significantly increase our annual bonded bunkering portfolio in China to 1 million metric tonnes (mt) by 2030.

“As we continue to expand our presence in China, we welcome capable and motivated individuals who share our long-term vision to join our Shanghai office.”

E-Marine’s new Shanghai office address is as follows:

Shanghai Xuhui District
Chang Ning Road No.889
Shanghai Yang Guang Bin Jiang Center
Unit 22-13

Candidates interested in growing together with E-Marine are invited to send their CV or profile to [email protected].

E Marine Shanghai office tea cups

Related: E-Marine raising China bonded bunker trading portfolio to 1 million mt by 2030, seeks talents
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine obtains ISCC EU certification
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine introduces Global Sales & Procurement Manager
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands operations with Singapore branch
Related: Bunker and lube trading firm Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service to open Singapore branch by June

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 4 June 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Axpo, Carnival Corporation conduct Naples’ first LNG bunkering operation of cruise ship

LNG bunkering tanker “Green Zeebrugge” supplied LNG to “Sun Princess”, operated by Princess Cruises, at the Port of Naples on 24 May, according to Axpo.

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Axpo, Carnival Corporation conduct Naples’ first LNG bunkering operation of cruise ship

Switzerland’s energy producer Axpo on Tuesday (26 May) said it has successfully completed the first LNG bunkering of a cruise ship in Naples, Italy, it was announced today. 

The ship-to-ship bunkering operation of the Sun Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, took place on 24 May.

The operation at the Port of Naples, was performed using the LNG bunkering tanker Green Zeebrugge, previously deployed in the Port of Genoa. 

The transfer of LNG to the cruise ship Sun Princess represented a key step in the expansion of LNG in the maritime sector, thereby supporting emission reduction efforts within this industry.

Axpo’s Head of Small-Scale LNG Daniele Corti, said: “This operation is further demonstration that an alternative fuel infrastructure is truly up and running. When industry partners collaborate towards a common goal, Europe’s shipping industry makes real progress towards lowering emissions. I’d like to thank the local authorities and Carnival Corporation for enabling this significant milestone.”

“This milestone marks important progress for Carnival Corporation as we continue expanding the use of LNG across our world-class cruise lines including Princess Cruises,” said John Haeflinger, senior vice president, maritime policy and analysis, Carnival Corporation. “Advancing access to alternative fuels in key ports is essential to supporting our efforts to reduce emissions, and this milestone reflects the power of collaboration across our industry.

The successful operation is the result of close collaboration between Axpo, the Port System Authority of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Terminal Napoli, and the Port Authority of Naples, which coordinated operational and regulatory activities related to the bunkering operation.

 

Photo credit: Axpo
Published: 29 May, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore-based PIL completes first LNG bunkering op in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port

“Kota Ocean” took on about 4,300 cubic metres of LNG during a simultaneous LNG bunkering and cargo operations at Mingdong Terminal.

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May 28, 2026

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Singapore-based PIL completes first LNG bunkering op in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port

Singapore-based container operator Pacific International Lines (PIL) on Monday (25 May) said its vessel Kota Ocean successfully completed a simultaneous LNG bunkering and cargo operations at Mingdong Terminal in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port.

The operation, held from 4 to 5 May, marked both PIL’s first LNG bunkering operation at the port and the terminal’s first ever LNG operation — a strong step forward in advancing green shipping with the Port of Shanghai.

Kota Ocean took on about 4,300 cubic metres (m3) of LNG with SIPG Energy, with support from the Pudong and Wusong Maritime Safety Administrations. 

“Through close coordination with SIPG Energy and the terminal, our team in Shanghai ensured that cargo operations and LNG bunkering proceeded in parallel — safely, efficiently, and without disruption,” the company said in a social media post. 

“Kota Ocean, one of PIL’s eight LNG dual-fuel vessels, is testament to our commitment towards fleet modernisation and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.” 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 28 May, 2026

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