Alternative Fuels

Singapore bunkering sector enters milestone with first methanol marine refuelling op

Maersk and Hong Lam Marine have successfully conducted world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation of a Maersk’s container vessel on 27 July 2023 in Singapore, says MPA.

Published

1 year ago

July 27, 2023

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Thursday (27 July) said Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd have 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. The operation was done with the support of MPA, government agencies and research institutes.

Maersk’s container vessel – the world’s first container vessel sailing on green methanol – was successfully refuelled with approximately 300 metric tonnes of bio-methanol via Hong Lam Marine’s Singapore-registered tanker, MT Agility, for its onward maiden passage to Copenhagen. MT Agility had earlier taken bio-methanol stored at Vopak Terminals. The container vessel will be named in a ceremony in Copenhagen in September.

Thorough Preparations to Ensure Safety

In preparation for the methanol bunkering operation in Singapore, MPA worked with over 28 agencies, partners and institutes to organise table-top exercises (TTX) and workshops, before carrying out a Ground Deployment Exercise (GDX). The first TTX was held during Singapore Maritime Week 2023 to identify safety measures and clarify roles and responsibilities for a coordinated cross-agency response to a methanol incident at sea.

A separate Hazard Identification (HAZID) and Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) workshop was conducted to identify potential risks and develop corresponding prevention, control, and mitigation methods. These were further evaluated during a second TTX and a GDX at sea in July 2023 with various stakeholders and government agencies. Customised methanol firefighting programme was also conducted by the Co-operative of SCDF Employees Ltd (COSEM) for MPA staff and Hong Lam Marine crew members as part of the preparations for the bunkering operation.

As part of the risk and environmental impact assessment for the methanol bunkering operation, MPA reviewed methanol-related incidents globally and worked with the Meteorological Service of Singapore to provide advance lightning risk warning if required. A methanol plume model was jointly developed by the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), A*STAR, Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), National University of Singapore, and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS), to forecast the dispersion path of the methanol plume in an event of an accidental methanol release and guide operations.

The model is a combination of dispersion in the air layer using computational fluid dynamics by IHPC, weather forecast and air quality modelling by TMSI, and plume dispersion in the sea via metocean modelling and prediction by TCOMS. During the methanol bunkering operation, researchers from the Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore flew drones equipped with methanol detector with plume modelling capabilities and infrared camera from MPA’s patrol craft MPA Guardian to augment the detection of potential methanol leaks into the atmosphere and methanol flames in an event of an accidental leak. These novel capabilities will be further enhanced to support the review of responses to maritime incidents and raise the preparedness of seafarers, marine professionals, and the port ecosystem in Singapore as new marine fuels such as methanol are introduced.

A Technical Reference (TR) for methanol bunkering is being developed by MPA in consultation with the Standards Development Organisation at Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SDO@SCIC). The TR will cover the refuelling requirements, operational and safety requirements for delivery of methanol from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, crew training and competency. Best practices learnt from this bunkering operation will also inform the development of specialised bunker vessels, mass flow meters, digital bunkering and other standards.

Aside from the development of the Technical Reference, MPA will continue to develop other operational and safety protocols, licensing requirements, training of seafarers and professionals, and study infrastructure needs such as terminal facilities and methanol carrying bunker tankers, to fully operationalise methanol bunkering. Learnings from the bunkering operation will also be presented to partners and international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization later this year to support the safe adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.

Milestone in Singapore’s green shipping future

MPA said the successful completion of the methanol bunkering operation is a significant milestone for Singapore’s development towards a multi-fuel future, and a testament to Singapore’s commitment as the world’s largest bunkering hub to meet the new marine fuel needs of international shipping through safe and efficient bunkering operations. It added more methanol bunkering operations are being planned in the coming year as methanol-enabled vessels are delivered globally.

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said: “The success of the methanol bunkering operation is a result of nearly a year’s preparations with various government agencies, research institutes, international collaborators, and industry to develop rigorous safety procedures through in-depth operational and risk assessments, modelling, and validation. This operation will help inform the development of the various standards, including the Technical Reference for methanol bunkering operations in Singapore, and guide our approach for future pilots and trials of new marine fuels. We thank A.P. Moller-Maersk, Hong Lam Marine, American Bureau of Shipping, Mitsui & Co., OCI Global, Stellar Shipmanagement and Vopak for their joint efforts with Singapore-based agencies in operationalising methanol bunkering capability and we welcome partners to work with us to accelerate maritime decarbonisation.”

Mr Morten Bo Christensen, Head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said: “A.P. Moller - Maersk is excited to collaborate with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Mitsui & Co., American Bureau of Shipping and Hong Lam Marine on the maiden voyage of the world’s first container vessel sailing on green methanol. This journey is an important step in our efforts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, as it will allow us to gain the necessary operational experience to operate the new engines and the fuel provided by OCI Global ahead of the arrival of our larger methanol-enabled vessels in the coming years.”

Mr Lim Teck Cheng, Executive Chairman, Hong Lam Marine, said: “We are deeply honoured to be a part of Singapore’s first STS methanol bunkering. This goes with our absolute commitment to provide a safe and environmentally friendly option to decarbonise the marine industry in line with IMO’s GHG emissions targets. This remarkable achievement marks a milestone and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, and we believe this will be a significant step in accelerating the development of methanol bunkering in Singapore. We would like to express our gratitude to our partners Maersk Oil Trading and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for their collaboration and support in this endeavour. Together, we can make a positive difference for planet earth and a more sustainable future.”

Mr Panos Koutsourakis, Vice President, Global Sustainability, ABS, said: “We are proud to have collaborated with Maersk, Mitsui, Hong Lam Marine and the MPA to develop the methanol bunkering safety procedures and checklists. This is an important advance on our industry’s sustainability journey, with a laser focus on safety. Green methanol holds significant promise to contribute to the decarbonisation of our industry and ABS has been leading the way by supporting its adoption. This vessel and her successors now on order are a vital step in creating more sustainable global supply chains.”

Mr. Takuya Shirai, the Chief Operating Officer of Mobility Business Unit II of Mitsui & Co. Ltd., said: "We are extremely proud to be part of this epoch-making project from the very beginning. We believe that the success of this ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation in the port of Singapore is only possible with the close collaborating partnership among A.P. Moller-Maersk, the American Bureau of Shipping, Hong Lam Marine, the Maritime and the Port Authority of Singapore and relevant supporters in this project. It represents a remarkable milestone to the journey towards the decarbonisation of global shipping. Through this project and other GHG reduction initiatives, Mitsui is committed to the realisation of a carbon neutral society."

Mr. Bashir Lebada, Chief Executive Officer, OCI Methanol / OCI HyFuels, said: “We are very proud to be the vessel’s fuel partner, making the world’s first green methanol-fuelled container ship journey a reality. The successful bunkering operation in Singapore is a testament to the hard work of the MPA and all the involved parties, and this maiden voyage proves that we can achieve the marine industry’s global greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets using green methanol. Singapore will be an essential hub for us as we scale our green methanol and ammonia bunker business, and we look forward to working with our local partners there to accelerate the shift to cleaner fuels in shipping.”

Kelvin Kang, General Manager, Stellar Shipmanagement, said: “Stellar Shipmanagement is delighted to be part of this HAZID/HAZOP and TTX discussion group for the methanol bunkering operation. These discussions are very important and helpful to our newbuilding methanol bunker tankers under construction currently, including layout, cargo handling, safety features as well as safe operation procedures. On behalf of our parent company Global Energy Group, we appreciate MPA’s continuous support to the bunkering industry in Singapore and the quest to make Singapore as the front runner in the development of the methanol bunkering.”

Rob Boudestijn, President, Business Unit Singapore, Vopak, said: “We congratulate Singapore on this important milestone and are proud to be a partner in completing this methanol bunkering operation safely. As a reliable infrastructure provider for maritime bunkering over the past 40 years, we look forward to playing a leading role in enabling Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey in the multi-fuelled future.”

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 27 July, 2023

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South Korea launches USD 696 million green bunker fuel infrastructure fund

Out of KRW 1 trillion, KRW 600 billion will be invested to build port storage facilities capable of supplying alternative marine fuels while KRW 400 billion will be used for constructing four bunkering vessels.

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South Korea launches USD 696 million green bunker fuel infrastructure fund

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

Alternative Fuels

UECC green bunker fuel investments avert FuelEU surcharges for customers

UECC said it has been able to eliminate surcharges for its customers under FuelEU Maritime as proactive adoption of green marine fuels has drastically reduced its financial exposure to the regulation.

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UECC and Titan team up on bio-LNG bunkering operations in Port of Zeebrugge

United European Car Carriers (UECC) on Monday (20 January) said it has been able to eliminate surcharges for its customers under FuelEU Maritime as proactive adoption of green fuels has drastically reduced its financial exposure to the newly implemented regulation.

Currently, switching to low-carbon biofuels is generally seen as the most effective route to achieve compliance with progressively tighter carbon intensity reduction targets and thereby avoid penalties under FEUM, which is designed to promote uptake of alternative fuel technologies towards the goal of net zero.

However, this approach will typically entail higher fuel costs for shipping companies given that biofuels - which can deliver respective reductions of 85% and 100% in well-to-wake and tank-to-wake emissions - cost between 50-150% more than conventional fossil fuels, while there is also limited feedstock supply.

An additional ‘Energy Surcharge’ levied on shippers to compensate for this price differential can be as much as 2-5% with the use of biofuel, according to UECC’s Energy & Sustainability Manager Daniel Gent.

But he said: “UECC will change absolutely nothing about its pricing structure in relation to FEUM.”

Gent explained this is largely due to the fact that UECC has already achieved significant reductions in carbon intensity by expanding the use of biofuels across its 15-vessel fleet since 2020.

It has also adopted liquefied biomethane (LBM) on its five dual and multi-fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carriers under the Sail for Change sustainability initiative launched last year that is supported by several major vehicle manufacturers.

“Consequently, we are already running a compliance surplus in relation to FEUM with our current energy mix and this is expected to extend into the early 2030s,” he says.

“We have previously informed our customers that their support for our investment in multi-fuel LNG vessels would insulate them against regulatory penalties and this is exactly what is happening here. This demonstrates the clear benefits of being ahead of regulation, investing in progressive technology and in the process of generating savings for our customers.”

UECC’s fleet decarbonisation effort has focused on investments in eco-friendly newbuilds - with two more multi-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTCs currently on order - as well as piloting alternative fuels, in addition to operational efficiencies and technical measures such as waste heat recovery and hull anti-fouling.

The company has rigorous fuel selection criteria based on sustainability, technical suitability and commercial viability. Its bio-products are compliant with Renewable Energy Directive (RED) criteria and sourced from Annex 9 feedstocks in line with regulatory requirements, while all fuels used are ISCC-certified.

Through a proactive fuel procurement strategy, UECC has secured volumes of alternative fuels for the longer term through agreements with suppliers like Titan Clean Fuels for LBM and ACT Commodities for biofuels to promote green fuel bunkering infrastructure. It is also diversifying its sources of supply, such as through a recent first truck-to-ship LBM refuelling operation with Naturgy in Spain.

“LBM from certain feedstocks or including carbon capture are the ‘heavy lifters’ on our decarbonisation journey and we see huge potential in these fuels,” Gent says.

UECC is firmly on track to achieve a minimum 45% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 to surpass the IMO target, while it is also set to exceed the required FEUM reduction of 31% by 2040 versus a 2020 baseline of 91.16 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule.

This means that UECC will have a sufficient compliance surplus to provide a pooling opportunity for third-party vessels under FEUM “so that all stakeholders can benefit from our investments”, according to Gent. But he says the company is not resting on its laurels and intends to make further alternative fuel investments with the aim of phasing out oil-based fossil fuels by 2040.

“As we are going ‘above and beyond’ in terms of our commitment to alternative fuels such as LBM and biofuel, we expect to have a significant compliance surplus under FEUM. With the investments we are planning in such fuels, UECC will never be in a position of needing to buy or borrow compliance units,” Gent concluded.

Photo credit: United European Car Carriers
Published: 22 January, 2025

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Safetytech Accelerator trials show strong potential to cut methane emissions in shipping

Three technologies from Framergy, Sorama, and Xplorobot, which were selected by MAMII, show potential to detect, measure, and mitigate methane emissions on LNG-powered ships.

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Safetytech Accelerator on Tuesday (21 January) said it has successfully completed three technology feasibility studies as part of its flagship Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII).

The studies were done in collaboration with Chevron, Carnival Corporation, Shell and Seapeak.

The results of these feasibility studies showed strong potential to cut fugitive methane emissions in the maritime industry.

MAMII is exploring options to advance these research projects to on-ship trials as soon as possible. 

While methane slip - unburnt methane released during the combustion process - remains the largest source of methane emissions on ships, emissions across the LNG supply chain, from loading to engine delivery, are also a concern.

These fugitive emissions are often unintended and short-lived, but identifying, quantifying, and mitigating them is essential to achieving industry-wide decarbonization goals.

Xplorobot, Sorama and framergy were selected by MAMII to help address the vital need to detect, measure and capture fugitive methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships.

Each provider selected for the trials brings expertise in a different technology, including:

Xplorobot: Provides a handheld device and AI-powered platform to detect and measure fugitive methane on ships using computer vision to pinpoint leak locations, overlay real-time emission rate data, and integrate seamlessly with existing systems for quick issue resolution without requiring specialised training.
Sorama: Develops acoustic cameras that detect fugitive gas by visualizing sound and vibration fields in 3D. Integrated AI and onboard software identify anomalies and classify sounds, enabling direct leak localization without complex analysis.
framergy: Specialises in adsorbents and catalysts for methane emission management. Their product, AYRSORB™ F250GII, captures and stores fugitive methane by selectively filtering methane from the air, leveraging its ultra-high surface area and coordination chemistry.

Feasibility Study Results Show Promise For Methane Abatement

Xplorobot conducted a detailed evaluation of their Methane Compliance Solution, focusing on its efficacy in detecting and quantifying methane emissions on LNG carriers and LNG-powered vessels.

The study targeted emissions from the warm side of the gas fuel line and both planned and unplanned venting events. Utilising comparable on-land data, this desktop analysis assessed how the technology would perform in maritime settings.

The technology demonstrated accuracy levels of +/-30% for emissions over 500 grams per hour and +/-50% for emissions between 100 and 500 grams per hour, thanks to a refined neural network algorithm calibrated through controlled release experiments. Xplorobot's solution promises to reduce inspection time dramatically with the ability to inspect 50 to 100 components in under an hour—sometimes as quickly as 10 minutes.

This efficiency, combined with automated digital emission tracking and compliance reporting, make the solution cost-effective. The next step is to deploy the kit in the field to further validate and optimise the technology for widespread adoption across the maritime industry.

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP from Unsplash
Published: 22 January, 2025