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MPA: Due diligence carried out prior to recent Singapore methanol bunkering pilot

MPA held a firefighting programme to prepare its staff involved in maritime operations and decarbonisation, researchers and crew members for the op.

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The Maritime and Port Authority Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (1 August) said MPA held a firefighting programme to prepare MPA staff involved in maritime operations and decarbonisation, researchers and crew members for Singapore’s first methanol bunkering operation.

The programme was conducted by the Co-operative of SCDF Employees Ltd (COSEM).

Eng Dih Teo, Chief Executive of MPA, said maritime electrification and the introduction of new maritime fuels such as methanol for propulsion will bring about new unknowns and challenges, particularly in the beginning. 

“As part of preparing Singapore’s maritime industry, operators, crew, engineers and response teams, we can learn and adapt from past incidents, safety studies and modelling, experience in transporting traded chemicals and from firms in adjacent industries such as energy and chemical storage, and reduce identified risks to below thresholds,” he said in a social media post. 

He added methanol has a low flash point at 11°C where it gives off sufficient vapour to be ignited, with a flammability range of 6 to 36.5% by volume in air. The methanol flame is a clear one that may not be easy to spot, especially during the day.  

“Methanol, as a flammable solvent, is a Class B fire when ignited and is put out by dry powder or foam. While water can put out fires from normal combustibles (Class A) such as paper, methanol still burns with up to four parts water and one part methanol,” he said. 

“Therefore, operators and crew are well-trained to don their suits and not use water.” 

Eng shared a video summarising segments of the firefighting course customised to help the crew to detect via handheld thermal sensors, portable gas detectors or the novel use of drones with thermal cameras and put out such fires more effectively, and be confident to address various scenarios.

“Advance warnings from the Meteorological Services or lightning detectors on ships can also help the crew reaction time to adjust and cease operations,” Eng said. 

“Our methanol bunkering preparations are an opportunity for our maritime ecosystem to raise competencies and the more prepared we are collectively, the higher our readiness to enable and support the global shipping community.”

He concluded that MPA will refine the course curriculum with its partners to ensure personnels will be prepared for more safe operations ahead. 

Manifold Times previously reported Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd successfully conducted the world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation of a Maersk’s container vessel on 27 July 2023 at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore. 

This was also Singapore’s first methanol bunkering operation.

Later, Manifold Times also reported The Methanol Institute (MI) stating the successful completion of Singapore’s first methanol bunkering pilot has given the republic a lead in adopting methanol as a marine fuel. 

MI added the milestone operation between a Maersk containership and Hong Lam Marine tanker MT Agility was the first in Asia to feature a methanol-fuelled containership, and not a commercial product carrier transporting methanol.

Marine fuels testing company VPS was also the first company to complete a methanol bunker quantity survey (BQS) operation during Singapore’s first methanol bunkering operation. 

Related: VPS completes quantity survey on Singapore’s first methanol bunkering op
Related: Singapore bunkering sector enters milestone with first methanol marine refuelling op
Related: The Methanol Institute: Singapore takes first-mover advantage in Asia with methanol bunkering pilot
Related: SunGas Renewable to build its first facility to produce green methanol bunker fuel for Maersk
Related: Singapore gets ready for its first methanol bunkering this week after one year preparation
Related: IBIA, Green Marine ink deal to provide methanol bunker training, starting in Singapore
Related: MPA organises workshop on safe handling of methanol bunker fuel in Singapore
Related: SMW 2023: Methanol-based spill scenario organised for ICOPCE table-top exercise
Related: OCI Global completes first green methanol bunkering of Maersk methanol-fuelled boxship
Related: Maersk orders six more green methanol-powered container ships from Chinese shipbuilder
Related: OCI Global to deliver green methanol bunker fuel for Maersk boxship on maiden voyage
Related: EC President to be godmother of Maersk green methanol powered vessel
Related: Maersk to hold festivities welcoming world’s first green methanol-powered boxship in September

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority Singapore
Published: 1 August, 2023 

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

Initial checks revealed that insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all six crew members on board failed to provide valid identification documents.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (22 May) said it has detained a suspicious tanker at about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary on 20 May. 

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi said an MMEA asset had detained the tanker while patrolling the Malaysia-Vietnam border. 

The vessel was detected after displaying several suspicious signs at around 1 pm before it was successfully detained 20 minutes later.

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

“Initial checks revealed the vessel has six crew members, including a captain and all are believed to be Thai citizens aged between 38 and 70,” he said.

It was also found that the insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all the crews on board the vessel failed to provide valid identification documents during the check. 

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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