Singapore progresses on methanol bunkering with latest TR 129 and ISO 6583 meeting

The Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) and Standards Development Organisation (SDO) on Wednesday (26 March) organised a sharing session for Singapore TR 129 and ISO 6583, learned Manifold Times.

Captain Rahul Choudhuri, Chair, TC for Bunkering (Ambient Liquid Fuels), took the opportunity to share how national and international standards support the bunker supply chain, and presented new standard and technical references to delegates at the event.

Specification for digital bunkering supply chain documentation (SS 709)
This new standard provides specifications and requirements for the main types of digital documents utilised and exchanged within bunkering supply chains, such as eBDN, aligning with established business practices and bunkering standards.

Technical Reference on Methanol Bunkering, TR 129:2025
Developed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore in collaboration with the SCIC, TR129 provides guidelines for custody transfer requirements, operational and safety protocols for methanol delivery, and crew training competencies.

Captain Choudhuri, who is also President, Strategic Partnerships at VPS, further shared the Technical Reference on Ammonia Bunkering (4 parts series) is expected to publish later in 2025.

“These standards will span areas including custody transfer requirements, operational and safety requirements for the delivery of the fuels from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, as well as crew training and competencies,” he said.

Captain Choudhuri also provided an update on the ongoing revision of WA 2:2022 Specification for marine biofuel. He noted WA 2 will be upgraded to a Technical Reference by the second quarter of this year (Q2 2025).

Captain K.K. Mukherjee, Convenor of WG on Methanol Bunkering, provided an overview of TR 129 by highlighting on the importance of proper bunkering procedures for ship-to-ship, shore-to-ship, and truck-to-ship methanol bunkering operations.

He stated that a new maritime energy training facility will be established in Singapore by 2026 to equip international maritime workers with skills to handle clean marine fuels such as methanol.

Meanwhile, an MPA-approved training course for the handling of methanol as a fuel, conducted by the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) was launched in April 2024 and covers the operational and safety aspects of methanol bunkering operations.

Captain Mukherjee further pointed out Singapore has been actively participating in the development of ISO bunkering standards related to methanol including:

• ISO/TC 28/SC 4/WG 18 Specifications of alternative fuels for marine applications
• ISO/TC 8/SC 25/WG 1 Maritime GHG reduction – Alternative Fuels
• ISO 6583 Specification of methanol as a fuel for marine applications
• ISO/CD 22120 – Ships and marine technology – Specification for bunkering of methanol fueled vessels

Dr Liu Ming, Singapore expert, ISO/TC 28/SC 4/WG 18, spoke on the general requirements and specifications for ISO 6583 Methanol as a fuel for marine applications.

He informed most of the methanol produced today meets International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA) reference specifications. However, even though one set of specification is provided, not all specs are relevant when used as marine fuel and other properties to be considered when used as marine fuel.

Dr Liu also highlighted methanol marine fuel is separated into three grades:

• grade A: MMA: lists the characteristics considered applicable when using methanol as a marine fuel with additional requirements in respect of lubricity and particle count
• grade B: MMB lists the characteristics considered applicable when using methanol as a marine fuel
• grade C: MMC provides for wider tolerances on some of the characteristics as compared to MMB.

Other speakers who gave presentations at the Sailing towards sustainability – New standards for marine alternative fuels event include:

• Vibin Chandrabose, WG member, Director, Projects, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
• Partha Das, WG Member, Global Technical Manager Lloyd’s Register (FOBAS)
• Kelvin Kang, WG Member, General Manager, Stellar Shipmanagement Services Pte Ltd, Global Energy International Ltd
• Capt Mohd Salleh Ahmad Sarwan, Senior Lecturer & Senior Specialist, Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic

The event ended with a Q&A panel discussion session moderated by Captain Choudhuri, supporting panellists Captain K.K. Mukherjee, Kelvin Kang, and Calvin Lee (Deputy Director, Standards and Investigations – Marine Fuels, MPA).

Photo credit (second image): Manifold Times
Published: 3 April 2025