Methanol bunkering vessel gets approval in China

CCS Wuhan Rules and Research Institute has issued the first approval in principle (AiP) certificate for methanol bunkering ships to Zhejiang Seahead Ship Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. in China.

According to CCS, The methanol bunkering ship certificated is a competitive brand of new energy ship independently developed by Seahead.  With a maximum capacity of 7500 t, bunkering fuel oil and methanol, fitted with hoses, ERS, QC/DC and ESD etc., the vessel can be used for the transfer of methanol fuel.

Wuhan Institute, with the technical advantages in alternative fuels, established the working group on methanol technology application and ship type service to carry out research and assessment on overall design, ship arrangement, bunkering system, cargo containment system and safety protection etc., providing full technical services in ship safety and system design optimization etc.

In addition, Wuhan Institute and the designer jointly carried out the application verification of the Rules for Methanol BunkeringShips (draft).

As CCS claims, the AIP certificate lays a solid foundation for the design, assessment and verification of methanol bunkering ships in China, which will help the industry to meet the growing demand for marine methanol fuel bunkering.

Methanol bunkering is already a reality and will probably gain more popularity as the shipping industry strives to reduce its emissions. For instance, Maersk and Hong Lam Marine have successfully conducted the world’s first ship-to-containership methanol bunkering operation in Singapore in late July.