China completes first green methanol bunkering of international-voyage bulker

China has carried out its first green methanol bunkering operation for a bulk carrier engaged in international voyages, with 1,021 tonnes of methanol supplied to the Liberian-flagged Green Future at Guangzhou Port on September 6, according to Guangzhou Port Group.

The ship-to-ship bunkering operation took place at the Dayushan anchorage and was conducted by the 109.9-metre, 7,500-dwt Daqing 268. The operation also marked the first methanol ship-to-ship bunkering conducted at an anchorage in Guangdong province.

The transfer took approximately 10 hours. Guangzhou maritime authorities monitored the operation through vessel traffic and maritime supervision systems, while patrol vessels managed traffic around the bunkering area.

Biomass-based methanol supplied at Guangzhou

The methanol used in the operation was Chinese-produced pure biomass-based methanol manufactured at CIMC Enric’s facility in Zhanjiang, Guangdong.

Daqing 268 entered service in January 2026 as China’s first methanol dual-fuel bunker vessel. The vessel can operate on methanol or conventional marine fuel and has previously been used for green methanol bunkering operations in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The bunker vessel is operated by Sinopec-COSCO Shipping Fuel Supply.

Green Future uses methanol dual-fuel technology

Green Future is a methanol dual-fuel Ultramax bulk carrier of approximately 65,700 dwt. The vessel is owned by Japanese shipowner Kambara Kisen and is time-chartered by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers.

Delivered in May 2025, Green Future is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group equipped with a dual-fuel engine capable of operating on methanol and conventional fuel oil.

The Guangzhou bunkering was not the vessel’s first methanol refuelling operation. On September 28, 2025, Green Future received low-carbon methanol through a ship-to-ship transfer at Ulsan, South Korea.

Guangzhou sees growth in marine fuel bunkering

The latest operation comes as bunkering activity at Guangzhou Port anchorages continues to expand. Marine fuel bunkering volumes at the port’s anchorages increased by more than 114% year on year during the first eight months of 2026.

Guangzhou Port Group, a wholly state-owned Chinese port operator, was established in 2004 following the restructuring of the former Guangzhou Harbor Bureau.