China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone on Monday (24 August) said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has completed Zhejiang province’s largest single-ship green methanol bunkering operation.

Methanol dual-fuel containership COSCO SHIPPING Libra received around 5,500 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol at the Meishan port area on 23 August.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Meishan Customs, part of Ningbo Customs, and was conducted by the methanol bunkering vessel Zhong Ran Lv Neng 85.

The operation set a new record for the volume of green methanol bunkered by a single international trading vessel in Zhejiang. 

The milestone comes as Ningbo-Zhoushan Port seeks to expand its large-scale green methanol bunkering capabilities.

Zhong Ran Lv Neng 85 entered commercial operation at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in July, becoming the port’s first newly built dedicated methanol bunker vessel.

According to the authorities, the customs department used its digital supervision system to enable paperless declaration and review of vessel movements and fuel supply information, while optimising on-site supervision arrangements.

Photo credit: China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone
Published: 27 August, 2026

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Thursday (27 August) released its report, Quantity assurance in marine biofuel supply chains, outlining a practical approach to help shipowners verify that they receive both the total quantity of fuel and the renewable content contracted. 

The approach draws on evidence from GCMD’s end-to-end marine biofuel supply chain trials conducted under commercial operating conditions.

Biofuels are purchased not only for their energy content, but also for the renewable content and emissions reductions they represent. The renewable fraction determines the green premium and underpins GHG accounting and regulatory compliance, yet blend ratios, such as B24 or B30, are typically supplier-declared rather than independently verified. Closing this verification gap will strengthen confidence in marine biofuel transactions.

Ensuring reliable measurement of total quantity transferred

Mass flow meters (MFMs) have become the preferred method for custody transfer, as they provide a transparent and auditable basis for determining the quantity of fuel transferred.

However, adding fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) to conventional marine fuels, such as Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) or High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO), can reduce the final blend’s viscosity, potentially pushing it outside the validated operating range of the MFM installed on the bunker barge. To maintain measurement integrity, the viscosity of the final blend should therefore be assessed under the actual transfer conditions against the applicable MFM operating range. This can be managed through appropriate transfer-temperature control or by using MFMs that have been validated for broader ranges.

Verifying the renewable fraction in biofuel blends

Verifying the renewable fraction requires appropriate analytical methods. FAME-based blends can be verified through compositional analysis, while hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)-based blends require radiocarbon analysis because renewable and fossil hydrocarbons cannot be distinguished through compositional testing. 

Interpreting analytical measurements, however, is not straightforward. Neat FAME may contain up to 3.5% non-ester material, so the measurable FAME content of a finished BXX blend may not exactly match its declared blend ratio.

Laboratory methods also have finite measurement precision. A difference between a measured result and a declared blend ratio therefore does not necessarily indicate incorrect blending or under-delivery.

Together, the three pillars of GCMD’s quality, quantity, and GHG emissions abatement assurance framework address whether the fuel is fit for use, delivers the claimed emissions reductions, and contains the contracted fuel quantity and renewable content. 

Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD, said: “Buyers need confidence that they have received both the fuel and the renewable content they paid for. This report provides a practical, evidence-backed basis for verifying renewable fuel claims, protecting commercial value and supporting credible GHG accounting as marine biofuel use scales.” 

Note: GCMD’s report can be found here. 

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 27 August, 2026

Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding (TZS) on Tuesday (25 August) said it delivered its fourth methanol dual-fuel 5,900 TEU container ship.

The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel propulsion system capable of operating on methanol as well as conventional fuel oil. 

The company said methanol is attracting growing attention as a next-generation marine fuel due to its potential to reduce CO₂ emissions and support the maritime industry’s transition towards decarbonisation.

“TZS has been actively advancing the construction of environmentally friendly vessels, and this latest delivery represents the company’s continued efforts to strengthen its capabilities in the field of alternative-fuelled shipbuilding,” the company said in a statement. 

Building on the successful delivery of its third methanol dual-fuel 5,900-TEU container ship, TZS said it is further enhancing its technical expertise and production experience in response to increasing demand for next-generation fuel vessels.

As international environmental regulations continue to tighten, demand for alternative-fuelled vessels is expected to expand further. 

“TZS will continue to develop and construct vessels that combine environmental performance, safety and operational reliability, contributing to the realisation of sustainable maritime transport,” the company added. 

Photo credit: Tsuneishi
Published: 27 August, 2026