China launched its first training platform to simulate methanol bunkering operations at Putuo District, Zhoushan on 15 January. 

The Methanol Bunkering System Simulation Training Platform V1.0 was created to fill technical gaps in domestic methanol bunkering training and exercises, in light of the growing demand and popularity for methanol in the shipping industry.  

Through the real-life simulation, the platform helps ship operators improve their safety management and emergency response capabilities, improving the development of green shipping technologies.

The platform was jointly developed by Zhejiang Ocean-U New Energy System Engineering and Zhejiang Ocean University. 

At the press conference , Zhejiang Ocean-U New Energy System Engineering successfully signed its first purchase agreement with Seacon Ships Management (Zhejiang), making Seacon the first customer to purchase the platform service. 

Wang Guofeng, chairman of Seacon, said that the platform has great potential in improving crew operating efficiency and safety, and he looks forward to deeper cooperation with Zhejiang Ocean-U New Energy System Engineering in the future.

Professor Lu Jinshu, Vice President of Zhejiang Ocean University, said they will continuously improve the platform to contribute more in the field of green shipping solutions to the industry. 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 23 January, 2025

Energy company Mabanaft on Wednesday (22 January) said it plans to convert four of its tanks at the Blumensand tank terminal in the Port of Hamburg over the next two years. 

The company’s aim is to enable the storage of methanol at Blumensand and facilitate the import of low-carbon methanol to northern Germany. 

By investing in methanol storage capabilities, Mabanaft wants to support its customers’ transition towards greener alternatives. Mabanaft expects demand to grow in the future, both in shipping and other transport sectors, as well as in the chemical industry.

While the tanks are planned to be retrofitted from mid-2025, the methanol storage is scheduled to start in 2027. Mabanaft intends to import the methanol itself and then store and distribute it in Germany and possibly other locations. 

By deciding to apply for the necessary approvals in January this year, the company is willing to take on this multi-million-euro investment. The project requires the successful completion of an approval process with the Hamburg Authority of Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft, BUKEA).

The four tanks that would be converted have a total capacity of approximately 20,000 cubic metres. Subject to the necessary approvals their conversion is planned to be carried out in two stages: the first two tanks by mid of 2026 and the further tanks in 2027. 

Mabanaft is working with both existing and new customers to develop solutions for decarbonising their fuel needs.

"CO2-reduced methanol can be produced in several ways: through e-methanol synthesis using renewable electricity and captured CO2, through biomethanol production from biomass, or through the production of so-called blue methanol from natural gas with carbon capture and storage," said Joost Vespermann, Business Developer in Mabanaft's Sustainable Fuels division. 

“All these types of low-carbon methanol can be used in the future, depending on regional legislation and customer preferences.”

Shipping as the first market for methanol 

“In the shipping industry, there is no single solution for sustainable fuels,” said Oleksandr Siromakha, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Mabanaft. 

“That’s why we are committed to offering our customers a diverse range of options tailored to their needs—both now and in the future. Alongside conventional fuels, we currently offer bio-blends and want to provide more tailored solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol.”

“Our goal is to simplify the transition for our customers by making methanol and other alternative fuels more accessible. The challenges of decarbonisation are great. We are here to support our customers every step of the way.”

In Europe in particular, Mabanaft is helping cruise lines and other players in the shipping industry to use methanol. In January 2024, Mabanaft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with cruise operator TUI Cruises to supply green methanol bunker fuel in the future.

In addition to the marine sector, the company intends to offer methanol to other areas of the transportation industry, such as a gasoline additive, as well as to the chemical industry. 

Related: Mabanaft to supply TUI Cruises with green methanol bunker fuel

Photo credit: Mabanaft
Published: 23 January, 2025

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Korea Ocean Business Corporation recently held a launch ceremony in Seoul for a KRW 1 trillion (USD 696 million) infrastructure fund that will be used to support the development of storage facilities for green marine fuels and bunkering vessels. 

Out of the KRW 1 trillion, KRW 600 billion will be invested to build port storage facilities capable of supplying LNG, methanol, and ammonia, and the remaining KRW 400 billion will be invested in constructing four new LNG and ammonia bunkering vessels by 2030. 

The move is expected to meet growing demand for green bunker fuels for domestic vessels and ensure reliable fuel supplies for foreign ships calling at domestic ports.

The ministry also announced that the Ulsan Hyundai Liquid Cargo Terminal Expansion Project was selected as the new fund’s first project to support the demand for methanol bunker fuel for domestic and foreign vessels. The total cost of the project is KRW 240 billion, of which KRW 130 billion will be provided by the infrastructure fund. 

In addition, the government plans to strengthen LNG supply capabilities through the Yeosu Myodo LNG Hub Terminal Project scheduled as the second project to be supported by the fund. 

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung, said: “Through the infrastructure fund, the government will flexibly expand the eco-friendly ship fuel supply infrastructure in line with future demand so that our ports can continue to secure a competitive edge as a global hub port.”

Photo credit: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea
Published: 22 January, 2025