The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, along with Enterprise Singapore through the Singapore Standards Council, published a new Technical Reference (TR) 129 on methanol bunkering March 10. This document aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative fuel in bunkering operations, according to the MPA and Enterprise Singapore.
The development marks an important step toward operationalizing methanol bunkering at scale and driving Singapore's pathway as a sustainable and multi-fuel bunkering hub.
The TR 129 sets out requirements covering safe handling, transfer and measurement of methanol in bunkering operations. This includes custody transfer requirements, comprising quantity and quality measurements for ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operations.
It also encompasses operational and safety requirements for the delivery of methanol from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, including a framework for crew training and competencies; and guidance on the use of mass flow meters to ensure accurate quantity management and digital documentation for bunkering.
Singapore is the world's largest bunkering port.The world's first ship-to-container ship methanol bunkering operation took place in the city-port in July 2023. MPA also conducted the first simultaneous methanol bunkering and cargo operations in May 2024 at Tuas Port with the use of the MFM system for methanol and digital bunkering.
"The learnings and experience gained, including in fueling procedure, crew training, and emergency responses, contributed to the development of TR 129," the MPA said.
TR 129 was developed by the working group on methanol bunkering, supported by the Standards Development Organization at Singapore Chemical Industry Council.
The working group comprises government agencies, research institutes, and industry stakeholders such as bunker suppliers, bunker craft operators, engine manufacturers, testing and certification bodies, shipowners and operators, among others, the MPA added.
Methanol is gaining increased traction due to stricter environmental rules in international shipping. In November, A.P. Moller-Maersk unveiled its ninth dual-fuel methanol vessel in Singapore. The vessel can save up to 280 mt of CO2/d running on green methanol compared with a sister ship sailing on heavy fuels, it said then.
According to data from global classification society DNV's Alternative Fuels Insight platform released in March, the percentage of the fleet in terms of number of ships on order comprised 82.57% conventional fueled vessels and 17.43% alternative-fueled ships. Among the alternative-fueled ships, 9.27% were orders for LNG-fueled ships, followed by those for methanol-powered ships at 4.85%.
Prices have sometimes been cited as an impediment to the widespread and swift adoption of zero-carbon fuels. However, some sources say that with stricter rules, the price gap with conventional marine fuels will narrow over time, triggering a switch to low-carbon fuels.
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, assessed Singapore-delivered low-carbon methanol marine fuel stable on the day at $1,025/mt March 7.
