Methanol

VPS conducts assessment on first SIMOPS methanol bunkering op in Singapore

Firm was appointed by OCI Methanol Europe to conduct a quantity and quality assessment of a methanol bunker fuel delivery to “Eco Maestro” in Singapore.

Published

1 year ago

May 29, 2024

Admin

VPS conducts assessment on first SIMOPS methanol bunkering op in Singapore

Marine fuels testing company VPS on Tuesday (28 May) said it was appointed by OCI Methanol Europe, part of the OCI Global Group, to conduct a quantity and quality assessment of a methanol fuel delivery to Eco Maestro in Singapore.

Captain Rahul Choudhuri, President Strategic Partnerships, VPS, said VPS survey experts Rafael Theseira and Muhd Nazmi Abdul Rahim were at hand during the methanol bunkering to ensure the 300 metric tonnes of methanol transfer was carried out smoothly, having been involved in the first methanol bunkering a year ago.

Manifold Times recently reported X-Press Feeders, Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd (GET), and PSA Singapore (PSA) successfully completing the first simultaneous methanol bunkering and cargo operation (SIMOPS) in Singapore.

A X-Press Feeder container vessel, Eco Maestro, on its maiden voyage from Asia to Europe was successfully refuelled with close to 300 mt of bio-methanol by GET, a MPA licensed bunker supplier, using MT KARA.

The ISCC-certified bio-methanol used for the SIMOPS was produced by green methanol producer OCI Global and supplied via GET, a ISCC-certified supplier.

Captain Choudhuri said the role of the marine, petroleum or bunker surveyor has evolved over the years in shipping and maritime affairs, but the principles have not – and that is to provide independent assessment of the quality and quantity of the product transfer.

“This may seem obvious but this quality and quantity control is crucial to avoid commercial discrepancies, shortages or fraud,” he said.

“Safety training is critical and we have been on top of this having completed the required MPA fire-fighting course and the IBIA Methanol training course. We will work more with the Singapore Maritime Academy for trainings in future,” he added.

In August last year, Singapore-headquartered independent common carrier X-Press Feeders launched its first ever dual-fuel vessel Eco Maestro in China.

Manifold Times previously reported VPS stating it was the first company to complete a methanol bunker quantity survey (BQS) operation in Singapore on 27 July last year.

VPS was appointed by Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd, to undertake the very first bunker quantity survey (BQS) of a methanol fuel delivery, supplied by Hong Lam to the Maersk vessel on its maiden voyage to Europe.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 29 May 2024

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Newbuilding

NYK Group’s first methanol-fuelled bulk carrier “Green Future” delivered

Vessel is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses methanol and fuel oil.

Published

23 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

NYK Group on 13 May received delivery of Green Future, the company’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier, at the TSUNEISHI Factory of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. where a naming and delivery ceremony was also held, it said on Thursday (14 June).

The vessel will be chartered by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd., an NYK Group company, from KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd.

It is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses methanol and fuel oil.

“Methanol has a lower environmental impact than fuel oil, and by using bio-methanol and e-methanol produced using hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources and recovered carbon dioxide, the vessel achieves significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” it said.

Vessel Particulars
LOA: 199.99 m
Breadth: 32.25 m
Depth: 19.15 m
Deadweight: approx. 65,700 metric tons
Capacity: approx. 81,500 m³
Draft: 13.8 m

Photo credit: NYK Group
Published: 17 June 2025

Research

Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center shares concept design of 3,500 TEU ammonia-fuelled containership

Concept design was optimised to achieve the required safety level while also limiting reductions in cargo capacity.

Published

24 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping on Thursday (12 June) unveiled a report focusing on the concept design of a 3,500 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) ammonia-fuelled container vessel.

The study presents a detailed concept design of a 3,500 TEU container feeder, developed with a focus on ammonia system design principles.

The concept design was optimised to achieve the required safety level while also limiting reductions in cargo capacity. As a result, this design concept marks an advancement in technically qualifying ammonia as a viable maritime fuel.

“Although the concept design is an important first step in qualifying a fuel pathway, the final design and operational details must ultimately deliver a safe vessel,” it stated.

“We addressed this aspect early in our design process with reference to the technical safety barriers listed above. We confirmed the concept design’s ability to achieve an acceptable safety level through a HAZID, hazard and operability study (HAZOP), and QRA.

“These processes have resulted in two Approvals in Principle of the concept design awarded by ABS and Lloyd’s Register (LR).”

Note: The full report concept design of a 3,500 TEU ammonia-fuelled container vessel may be downloaded here.

Photo credit: Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Published: 17 June 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil jumped 671.7% to 40,900 mt when compared to figures seen in May 2024.

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Admin

Bunker fuel sales at Singapore port inched forward by 1.1% on year in May 2025, the highest volume seen in 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.88 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,878,100 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.83 million mt (4,826,800 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 May (against on year) recorded respectively 1.89 million mt (+8.6% from 1.74 million mt), 2.45 million mt (-7.2% from 2.64 million mt), 1,200 mt (from zero), 1,700 mt (-88% from 14,300 mt) and zero (from zero).

SG bunker port performance May 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 May (against on year) recorded respectively 40,900 mt (+671.7% from 5,300 mt), 95,800 mt (+97.9% from 48,400 mt), 700 mt (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from 300 mt). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,900 mt of deliveries in May.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 45,000 mt (-7.8% from 48,800) and zero (from 1,600 mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 16 June 2025