Methanol

Singapore gets its first dedicated methanol bunkering tanker “MT MAPLE”

GET, Stellar Shipmanagement and BV are now part of a working group spearheaded by MPA to introduce a new bunkering procedure for delivery of methanol as a bunker fuel in the port of Singapore.

Published

1 year ago

December 14, 2023

Admin

Singapore gets its first dedicated methanol bunkering tanker “MT Maple”

Classification society Bureau Veritas on Wednesday (13 December) said Stellar Shipmanagement Services Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Energy Group, has taken delivery of a 4,000 DWT IMO Type 2 Chemical and Oil Tanker.

MT MAPLE, classed by Bureau Veritas, is the first dedicated methanol bunkering tanker to operate in the port of Singapore.

The delivery was formalised in a Delivery Ceremony in Osakikamijima, Hiroshima, Japan, on 13 December 2023. The vessel, MT MAPLE, was built by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, Hiroshima, Japan. The vessel is equipped with twin-screw propulsion, flow boom and a mass flow metering system, and is compliant with MPA’s current licensing requirements for Oil Product Bunker Tankers.

The ship’s cargo tanks are specifically coated with inorganic zinc silicates for the carriage of methanol. A dedicated team supervised the construction of the 4,000 dwt IMO Type 2 tanker.

Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd (GET) is the trading arm of Global Energy Group. GET is a Singapore MPA-licensed and UAE-licensed bunker supplier, and offers a full range of marine fuels which will soon include biofuel (beyond Bio25) and methanol from 2024. The new bunkering tanker will join the GET fleet by the end of 2023.

Stellar Shipmanagement is a leading ship manager for oil and chemical tankers, providing full technical management and crewing services exclusively to the fleet of 20 tankers owned by Global Energy Group.

A second vessel, MT KARA, ordered by the Group was launched on 29 November 2023 by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, and is scheduled for delivery in March 2024.

With the first dedicated methanol bunkering tanker built, GET, Stellar Shipmanagement and Bureau Veritas are now part of a working group spearheaded by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to introduce a new bunkering procedure for the safe handling and delivery of methanol as a marine fuel to ships refuelling in the port of Singapore.

Mr. Loh Hong Leong, Group Managing Director of Global Energy Group, said: “We believe IMO Type 2 tankers will be the next generation of bunkering tankers to serve the industry, offering the flexibility to handle a wider range of marine fuels, in particular biofuels and methanol. With this addition, we will be able to trade and supply two low carbon transitional marine fuels which will support the shipping industry with a pivotal step on its decarbonization journey.”

Kelvin Kang, General Manager of Stellar Shipmanagement, said: “To operate IMO Type 2 tankers to provide a bunkering service, the expectations of our management will be taken to new heights with calls for a much higher safety standard and in the quality of crew to man the ship.”

David Barrow, Marine & Offshore, Vice-President South Asia and Pacific, Bureau Veritas, said: “The delivery of Singapore’s first dedicated methanol bunkering vessel is an important step to support the adoption of alternative low-carbon fuels by shipping. By enabling the delivery of methanol to vessels calling at Singapore, the new vessel will contribute to developing the industry’s supply and bunkering capabilities, which are essential in order to scale up those fuels and ensure their availability.”

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.

The operation marked 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.

Photo credit: Bureau Veritas
Published: 14 December, 2023

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Methanol

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding completes first block loading of methanol-fuelled newbuildings

Company completed the first block loading of its first 5,900TEU methanol-fuelled containership and its first methanol dual-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carrier in China and Philippines respectively.

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21 hours ago

April 23, 2025

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Tsuneishi Shipbuilding completes first block loading of methanol-fuelled newbuildings

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding on Tuesday (22 April) said its shipyard in China successfully completed the first block loading for its first 5,900TEU methanol-fuelled containership, which is the largest of this ship type built by the company, on 16 April.

In addition to the enhanced hull form and MT-FAST, the company’s innovative energy-saving technology, the integration of a large-capacity shaft generator has enabled this dual-fuel vessel to achieve both optimal loading performance and exceptional fuel economy when compared with fuel oil vessels in the same segment.

MT-FAST is an energy-saving device that improves propulsion efficiency by approximately 4% by regulating water flow through the installation of multiple fins in front of the propeller. It was developed jointly with MTI of the NYK Group.

The vessel has been developed based on the concept of a final solution for the zero CO₂ emission vessel through the use of green methanol. Therefore, not only the main engine but also all on-board generators, HiMSEN engine which will be supplied by HD Hyundai, can be methanol-fuelled.

This makes it possible to achieve carbon neutrality with the exception of a small amount of pilot fuel. Furthermore, the vessel is equipped with the necessary infrastructure to receive large-capacity alternative maritime power supplies.

“In addition, the generators can be deactivated during anchorage, thereby achieving zero CO₂ emissions. We will continue to promote the further practical application of methanol-fuelled vessels with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in the future,” the company said.

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding completes first block loading of methanol-fuelled newbuildings

Additionally, the Japan-based shipbuilder said its yard in the Philippines has successfully completed the first block loading for its first methanol dual-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carrier on 21 April at THI Slipway No.2 .

The vessel is scheduled to be launched in July 2025 and delivered in January 2026.

It is the first methanol-fuelled vessel in the Kamsarmax series, a long-standing series of vessels built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, which reached the 400-vessel milestone in July 2024.

By using methanol for propulsion, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding said the vessel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 10%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 80% and sulphur oxide emissions by 99% during voyages compared to conventional models.

Photo credit: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding
Published: 23 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: GCMD develops calculator to explore IMO GFI-linked pricing system

Free cost and compliance calculator has been developed by its team based on the newly approved GHG emissions pricing framework by IMO’s MPEC 83 recently.

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2025

Admin

Singapore: GCMD develops calculator to explore IMO GFI-linked pricing system

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Tuesday (15 April) introduced a free cost and compliance calculator that has been developed by its team based on the newly approved greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pricing framework by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MPEC 83).

The calculator will help maritime stakeholders explore how the two-tiered, GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI)-linked pricing system could impact operational costs.

GCMD said the buzz around International Maritime Organization's MEPC 83 and the newly approved GHG emissions pricing framework has been intense — and understandably so.

“To help make sense of it, our CEO Prof. Lynn Loo started with handwritten trajectory calculations to break down the core workings,” it said in a social media post.

“Building on that, our team has developed a simple, accessible cost and compliance calculator to help you explore how the two-tiered, GFI-linked pricing system could impact operational costs.”

The calculator is just one input—its results should be considered alongside other economic and operational factors to inform commercial decisions.

The tool covers covers heavy fuel oil (HFO), liquified natural gas (LNG), B24 biofuel, e-ammonia and bio-methanol.

“Whether you're assessing fuel options, planning newbuilds, or just trying to get a feel for what this might mean for your operations — this tool offers a useful first-cut view. For added clarity, we’ve included the workings on the side so you can trace the calculation process,” GCMD added.

Note: GCMD’s cost and compliance calculator can be found here.

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 16 April, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025

4.47 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in March, up from 4.45 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA data.

Published

1 week ago

April 15, 2025

Admin

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 0.5% on year in March 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.47 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,469,170 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in March, up from 4.45 million mt (4,445,070 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in March (against on year) recorded respectively 1.62 million mt (+0.6% from 1.61 million mt), 2.33 million mt (-3.7% from 2.42 million mt), 500 mt (+100% from zero), 100 mt (-98% from 5,100 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in March (against on year) recorded respectively 51,900 mt (+100% from zero), 93,700 mt (+42% from 66,000 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). A new addition of biofuel blend, introduced in February this year, B100, recorded no sales in March.

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 39,000 mt (+1% from 38,600) and zero (from zero).

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below: