Alternative Fuels

CEN workshop agreement puts methanol in pole position as safe bunker fuel for Arctic

States can take action to avoid another decade of HFO use in the Arctic and mitigate black carbon risks from VLSFO by using methanol as bunker fuel.

Published

6 years ago

December 1, 2020

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The Methanol Institute on Tuesday (1 December) urged the maritime community to take action to mitigate pollution and emissions risk in Polar regions by adopting methanol as a bunker fuel through the application of safe bunkering guidelines developed by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

It is participating in the Safe Maritime Operations under Extreme Conditions: The Arctic Case (SEDNA) project and has already secured a CEN Workshop Agreement on a process to address safety during bunkering of Methanol as a marine fuel earlier this year.

IMO member states in late November agreed amendments to MARPOL regulations to restrict the use of Heavy Fuel Oil in Arctic waters, changes that have come in for criticism from environmental groups thanks to exemptions and waivers that may not see a comprehensive ban on HFO come into effect until mid-2029.

Some NGOs are also concerned that very low sulphur fuel oil used in place of HFO contains high levels of black carbon, a particularly dangerous pollutant to the Arctic environment where it can settle on and increase the melt rate of sea ice.

“The shipping industry knows that the use of HFO in the Arctic is unsustainable and questions around the black carbon content of VLSFO raise serious questions that need to be addressed,” says Methanol Institute Chief Operating Officer Chris Chatterton.

“Being miscible in water and biodegradable means Methanol has negligible spill risk and it’s possible to use as a marine fuel with close to zero particulate matter emissions.”

The SEDNA project put forward technical provisions and assessment of relative safety risks along with safety zone guidance for three Methanol bunkering concepts: truck to ship, shore to ship and ship to ship.

It included a safety assessment of the implications for the environment, for vessels and their crews of projected accidents where the vessels involved using low flash point and conventional fossil fuels.

Consideration was given for ships intended to be exposed to the Arctic’s specific environmental conditions, by providing comprehensively comparative safety assessments of the use of low flash point fuels in Arctic shipping operations in place of conventional fossil fuels.

The CEN Workshop Agreement on Methanol bunkering processes set out requirements for bunkering Methanol to marine vessels and included the following four elements.

Guidelines for usage of hardware and transfer system,
Operational procedures,
Requirement for the methanol provider to provide a bunker delivery note,
Training and qualification of personnel involved.

“With the expected increase in shipping traffic operations in the Arctic comes a corresponding increase in the risk of accidents as well as an increase in ship-source emissions,” adds Chatterton.

“Nations are increasingly moving ahead of the regulatory curve in restricting HFO use and Methanol gives them a practical and scalable alternative that will increasingly see renewable volumes coming onstream.”

Used as a marine fuel, conventional Methanol emits no sulphur, very low PM and according to data from MAN Energy Solutions has carbon dioxide emissions around 20% lower than conventional marine fuel oil.

To meet IMO NOx Tier III requirements, Methanol can be blended with water which brings the ship into compliance without the need for expensive exhaust gas after treatment. In the longer term the production of renewable bio-Methanol provides a climate-neutral pathway for the industry to adopt sustainable marine fuel.

Photo credit: Methanol Institute
Published: 1 December, 2020

Alternative Fuels

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

“MV Scion Mathilda” was supplied with 246.5 mt of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

Agri-business Olam Agri on Thursday (20 August) said it successfully completed Singapore’s first bio-bunkering operation with Vitol Bunkers, using Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) co-processed with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL), showcasing a waste-to-energy approach.

MV Scion Mathilda was supplied with 246.5 metric tonnes (mt) of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO. The product was supplied by Vitol Bunkers and procured by Olam Agri’s ocean freight business.

The fuel was subsequently consumed during a voyage from Caofeidian (China) to Rotterdam (Netherlands), followed by a ballast leg from Rotterdam to Barcarena (Brazil).

Total fuel consumption across the voyage comprised 1,354 mt of VLSFO, 101 mt of MGO and 34.1 mt of co-processed VLSFO. The vessel completed the voyage without any operational remarks, confirming the product’s performance in real-world conditions.

The operation marks a significant step forward in the search for practical, scalable alternatives to conventional marine fuels, and demonstrates that meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions can be achieved without any change to vessel operations.

Martin Fynbo, Head of Bunkers at Olam Agri’s ocean freight business, said: “The successful deployment of this product, achieving verified greenhouse gas mitigation alongside ensuring operational integrity, serves as a definitive proof of concept. This milestone provides validation to a traditionally risk-averse sector, demonstrating that a previously disregarded bio-product solution can both be operationally viable and sustainable.”

Sherman Yeo, Trading Manager, Vitol Bunkers, said: “This operation proves that co-processed VLSFO can be delivered and consumed at sea without any compromise to vessel performance or operational routine. The mass balance solution we have developed opens up a genuinely new avenue for GHG reduction in marine fuels.”

The co-processed VLSFO carries a GHG intensity of 2.02 gCO2eq/MJ, delivering savings of at least 120 MT CO2eq compared with conventional VLSFO on an equivalent basis. This outcome was achieved with no additional onboard handling or fuel treatment requirements.

Vitol’s co-processing and mass balancing methodology resolves a longstanding challenge in the use of CNSL as a marine biofuel. Direct blending of CNSL has historically been dismissed by the industry due to material compatibility and handling issues. By co-processing CNSL within the refinery stream, Vitol has opened a commercially viable pathway for CNSL to contribute to GHG reduction in shipping.

The co-processed VLSFO used in this operation conforms to RMG380 VLSFO grade and has the same chemical composition and quality as conventional fuel, eliminating the need for additional permissions or special clauses in charter party agreements.

“CNSL, derived as a by-product of cashew processing, represents an underutilised feedstock with genuine potential as a scalable marine biofuel component,” Olam Agri added.

“This trial demonstrates that with the right processing approach, it can be integrated into existing supply chains without disruption.”

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 21 August, 2026

Alternative Fuels

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Clean energy equipment and services provider CIMC Enric on Monday (17 August) said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co Ltd, covering LNG, green methanol, shipbuilding and new energy for marine applications.

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services. They also plan to expand into emerging marine fuels and energy solutions, including green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The partnership will focus on five areas: energy-resource cooperation, shipbuilding, marine-fuel bunkering, vehicle-related services and integrated services.

The agreement was signed in Shenzhen on 14 August by Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, and Xu Tao, deputy general manager and Party committee member of Sinopec Fuel Oil.

The cooperation will span commercial implementation, industry development and technology innovation.

The partnership comes as the shipping industry accelerates its transition towards lower-carbon fuels amid tightening International Maritime Organization emissions regulations and China’s carbon-reduction goals.

CIMC Enric specialises in equipment for the clean-energy sector, while Sinopec Fuel Oil leverages the resource and supply network of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). Both said their complementary capabilities provide a basis for moving beyond a conventional equipment-supply relationship towards broader cooperation integrating equipment, fuels, applications and technology.

The two companies began working together in October 2022, initially focusing on LNG and CNG storage and transportation equipment. Their cooperation has since expanded into marine equipment, green methanol bunkering, storage and transportation equipment, and external gas-source procurement.

The companies said they will establish a regular cooperation mechanism and develop detailed projects to accelerate implementation. The partnership is intended to strengthen collaboration between energy-equipment and energy-supply companies and support the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-carbon fuels.

Photo credit: CIMC Enric
Published: 21 August, 2026

Ammonia

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Both signed a framework agreement for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Azane Fuel Solutions (Azane) on Thursday (20 August) said it has signed a framework agreement with Equinor Energy AS for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The first deliveries will commence during the second half of 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for future ammonia fuel deliveries and bunkering operations supporting the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-emission solutions.

“This agreement marks an important milestone for Azane and demonstrates growing confidence in ammonia as a marine fuel,” said Steinar Kostøl, CEO of Azane.

“Truck-to-ship bunkering offers a practical and flexible solution for the early adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels while the broader ammonia fuel ecosystem continues to develop.”

The agreement covers truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations, where ammonia is transported to the quayside and transferred directly to the receiving vessel.

The contract supports Azane’s strategy of enabling near-term deployment of ammonia as a marine fuel while continuing to develop dedicated ammonia infrastructure for future market growth.

Photo credit: Azane Fuel Solutions
Published: 21 August, 2026