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SMW 2023: Methanol-based spill scenario organised for ICOPCE table-top exercise

Exercise scenario involved, for the first time, methanol spill at sea to prepare for methanol bunkering in Port of Singapore later this year; modelling study of plume clouds from released methanol was shown.

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ICOPCE

The 13th biennial International Chemical and Oil Pollution Conference and Exhibition (ICOPCE) was held on Wednesday (26 April) at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week. 

Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the event was opened by Capt M. Segar, Assistant Chief Executive (Operations), MPA. 

Themed ‘Spill Strategies in a Decarbonisation Era’, the conference provided a platform for industry professionals to discuss spill strategies for alternative marine fuels, including best practices, safety challenges and crisis management. ICOPCE brought together more than 150 professionals from various government agencies, port operators, as well as industry players from the bunkering, petrochemicals, shipping, protection and indemnity, and emergency response sectors. 

Key speakers include Mr Christophe Logette, Director, Cedre, Mr Rob Boudestijn, Managing Director, Vopak Terminals Singapore, and Capt Clint Bout, General Manager and Head of Marine, Hafnia.

Methanol-based Spill Scenario for the ICOPCE Table-Top Exercise

A table-top exercise (TTX) was organised as part of the ICOPCE programme to provide an opportunity for participants to review existing safety measures and standards, identify potential gaps and new safeguards, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen cross-agency coordination for an effective response to a chemical spill incident. This year’s TTX scenario involved, for the first time, methanol spill at sea to prepare for methanol bunkering in the Port of Singapore later this year. A modelling study of plume clouds that could form when methanol is suddenly released into the atmosphere during an incident or emergency was presented by MPA’s Port Chemist for participants’ awareness.

Participants also learnt about the specific hazards of methanol where a methanol flame is difficult to detect by sight, possible safety measures that could be adopted when handling the fuel, effective measures to detect and put out a methanol fire onboard a vessel, and the training of seafarers, operators, and engineers to reduce the risks of methanol handling.

Panos Koutsourakis, Vice President, Global Sustainability from ABS, said, “ABS is committed to supporting the safe adoption of methanol by the industry and today’s event is an important aspect of that. This year’s ICOPCE TTX provided participants with insights into the behaviour of methanol in a maritime operating environment and helped build confidence of how the maritime industry can safely manage its risks and hazards while achieving net-zero emissions. By working together to examine challenges and explore solutions, we can keep our industry in the forefront of the energy transition.

ICOPCE

Development of Safety Standards for New Fuels

A key pillar of Singapore’s multi-fuel future development is the safe handling of alternative new marine fuels. MPA, together with various research agencies and the industry, are developing the necessary safety standards and procedures to ensure safe and efficient bunkering operations of new fuels, including methanol and ammonia.

The ongoing key safety studies and plans related to Methanol include: 

  • Working Group on standard development for Methanol Bunkering – Appointed by Enterprise Singapore as the Standards Development Organisation, the Singapore Chemical Industry Council has formed a Working Group, in consultation with MPA, to develop a Technical Reference (TR) for methanol bunkering for Singapore. The TR will cover custody transfer requirements for delivery of methanol from the bunker tanker to receiving vessels, operational and safety requirements for methanol bunkering as well as crew training and competency. Discussions on the TR has commenced within the Working Group in April 2023 and it is expected to be ready in 2024.
  • Hazard Identification (HAZID) and Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) workshop – MPA will organise a HAZID and HAZOP workshop in May 2023 with methanol bunkering trial partners, working group members and relevant government agencies to develop prevention, control and mitigation methods, as well as safety and operational readiness standards required during the bunkering operation.
  • Full Deployment Exercise (FDX) – MPA will hold a FDX involving government agencies and the stakeholders in Q3 2023 to validate the effectiveness of the emergency preparedness, procedures, and responses for methanol bunkering.

Infrastructure for Methanol Bunkering

Since 2022, Singapore has completed more than 70 methanol loading and discharging operations for industrial use, measuring a total of more than 400,000 tonnes. These operations were conducted across 10 storage tanks at Jurong Island of varying capacities at Vopak Terminals, Stolthaven Terminal, Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (PCS) Terminal, and Chevron Oronite Terminal. These tanks can also be used to store methanol for bunkering requirements. 

Maersk Methanol Bunkering Operation Pilot in Port of Singapore 

First announced during the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) in 2022, Singapore’s first methanol bunkering pilot will be conducted with Maersk Oil Trading, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore Pte. Ltd, and American Bureau of Shipping in Q3 2023. The pilot will be coordinated by MPA, who will work closely with the stakeholders, research community and national entities to ensure that the bunkering operation is carried out safely and securely. 

The lessons gleaned from this bunkering operation will inform the development of processes and procedures for other maritime fuels under consideration such as ammonia and hydrogen. 

As the port authority, MPA said it will continue to work closely with the industry and the research community to facilitate all trials and pilots of new marine fuels in the Port of Singapore and in conjunction with MPA’s green and digital shipping corridor partners.

 

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

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LNG Bunkering

South Korea’s HJSC scores LNG bunkering vessel order from H-Line Shipping

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction has secured its first order of the year with a contract worth KRW 127.1 billion (USD 87.6 million) to build an 18,000㎥ LNG bunkering vessel for H-Line Shipping.

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South Korean HJSC scores LNG bunkering vessel order from H-Line Shipping

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) has secured its first order of the year with a contract worth KRW 127.1 billion (USD 87.6 million) to build an 18,000㎥ LNG bunkering vessel for H-Line Shipping. 

The contracted vessel is a large-scale LNG bunkering ship measuring 144 meters in length, 25.2 meters in width, and 12.8 meters in depth. It is capable of supplying up to 18,000㎥ of LNG in a single operation to LNG-fuelled ships. 

Equipped with two independent LNG tanks certified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the vessel features a dual-fuel propulsion system that allows it to operate on both eco-friendly LNG and marine diesel oil. This advanced system ensures both stability and operational efficiency while effectively reducing carbon emissions.

Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJSC, said, “As global LNG demand and supply continue to grow, the LNG bunkering vessel market will see steady expansion.” 

“We will focus on strengthening our expertise in building eco-friendly, high-value-added ships, securing a competitive edge that aligns with our legacy as a leader in shipbuilding.”

This achievement follows the company's success in 2014 when it built the world’s first 5,100㎥ LNG bunkering vessel for Japan’s NYK Line.

“This accomplishment also reinforces South Korea’s shipbuilding industry's efforts to enhance competitiveness by securing high-efficiency, environmentally friendly vessels in the global market,” HJSC said. 

“Notably, with the anticipated expansion of oil and natural gas drilling and the resumption of LNG exports under the second Trump administration in the US, the market for crude oil carriers, LNG carriers, and LNG bunkering vessels is expected to see significant growth.”

“This trend is likely to benefit the country’s highly competitive shipbuilding industry.”

 

Photo credit: HJ Shipbuilding & Construction
Published: 12 February, 2025

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Methanol

India’s first bio-methanol bunker barge to be part of new bunkering facility project

Construction of the bunker barge is part of a MoU between Bapu’s Shipping Jamnagar and Deendayal Port Authority to develop a methanol bunkering facility at Kandla.

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India’s first bio-methanol bunker barge to be part of new bunkering facility project

India’s shipping company Bapu’s Shipping Jamnagar on Sunday (9 February) announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deendayal Port Authority on 8 February to develop a methanol bunkering facility at Kandla. 

The firm said the construction of India’s first bio-methanol bunker barge will be a key part of this initiative to cater to the growing requirement for sustainable maritime fuel. 

“India’s first methanol bunker barge will be constructed at Deendayal Port, marking a significant step in accelerating green shipping and decarbonisation,” said Bhupendra Sinh Jadeja, Managing Director of Bapu’s Shipping. 

“With global ports like Shanghai, Ulsan, Singapore, and Rotterdam advancing methanol bunkering, India is stepping up! Deendayal Port Authority has committed to providing necessary infrastructure support to fast-track the bunker supply chain.”

“We are honoured to be their channel partner in this transformative journey.”

 

Photo credit: Bapu’s Shipping Jamnagar
Published: 12 February, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

Argus Media: California aims to expand alternative bunker fuels

State senate bill 298, introduced by state senator Anna Caballero, would require a plan to be developed by 31 December 2030 for use and deployment of alternative marine fuels at California’s public seaports.

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California lawmakers will consider expanding alternative marine fuels use by ocean-going vessels on the state's coast.

12 February 2025

State senate bill 298, introduced by state senator Anna Caballero (D), would require the California State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), the California Transportation Agency and the state board to develop a plan by 31 December 2030 for the use and deployment of alternative fuels at California's public seaports.

The plan should identify significant alternative fuel infrastructure and equipment trends, needs, and issues and describe how the state will facilitate permitting and construction of infrastructure to support alternative fuels. The plan should also identify locations for alternative fuel infrastructure, provide a reasonable timeline for its installment and estimate the costs, including public or private financing opportunities.

The bill also calls for the Energy Commission to convene a working group consisting of representatives of seaports, marine terminal operators, ocean carriers, waterfront labor, cargo owners, environmental and community advocacy groups, the Transportation Agency, the state board, the Public Utilities Commission, and air quality management and air pollution control districts. The working group will advise the commission.

The US territorial waters, including California's, are designated as emission control areas (ECAs). In the ECAs, the sulphur content of marine fuel burned by ocean-going vessels is capped at 0.1pc. Thus ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California burn 0.1pc sulphur maximum marine gasoil (MGO). Ocean-going vessels could achieve the equivalent of 0.1pc sulphur marine fuel emissions by installing marine exhaust scrubbers. But California has banned their use. California is the only US state that has banned the outright use of marine scrubbers.

California also requires that ocean-going vessels while at berth in California ports must either use shore power or use alternative technology such as batteries. The regulation came into force for container ships, reefers and cruise ships in 2023. It came into force this January for tankers visiting Los Angeles and Long beach and for roll on roll off vessels. Starting on 1 January 2027, it will apply to all tankers at berth in all California's ports.

US harbor craft vessels (such as barges, commercial fishing vessels, excursion vessels, dredgers, pilot vessels, tugboats and workboats) in California's waters are required to burn renewable diesel (R99 or R100). By comparison, elsewhere in the US, harbor craft vessels are required to burn ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD). In January, Los Angeles ULSD averaged at $773/t and R99 at $962/t.

By Stefka Wechsler

 

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 12 February, 2025

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