Singapore moves to secure methanol bunker supply

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is seeking proposals for the supply of methanol as a marine bunker fuel in Singapore from 2025.

MPA said the call is aimed at ensuring a resilient supply of methanol to meet the international bunkering needs in the Port of Singapore, given the expected delivery of methanol-capable vessels in the coming years.

The proposals, which should be submitted by February 29, 2024, have to look into methanol supply sources, the bunkering operation model at a commercial scale and ways to physically transfer methanol. In July this year, the world’s top bunkering hub carried out its first bio-methanol refuelling operation for a Maersk boxship. Singapore’s first dedicated methanol bunkering tanker, Maple (pictured), was recently delivered in Japan to Stellar Shipmanagement Services, a subsidiary of Global Energy Group (GEG), and is set to join the GEG trading arm’s fleet by the end of 2023.