Maersk’s first methanol containership called Singapore

Maersk took delivery of its first containership able to run on green methanol earlier this month. The vessel called Singapore on its maiden voyage to Copenhagen, where it will be named.

Maersk, Singaporean bunker craft operator Hong Lam Marine, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies and research institutes were involved in the operation.

MPA said the ship was refuelled with around 300 tonnes of bio-methanol via Hong Lam Marine’s Singapore-flagged tanker MT Agility at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage.

MPA said it worked with more than 28 agencies, partners and institutes to prepare for the methanol bunkering operation.

MPA organised table-top exercises, workshops and ground deployment exercises. Exercises sought to identify safety measures and define roles and responsibilities for a cross-agency response in the event of a methanol incident at sea.

The port authority also assessed risk and environmental impacts ahead of the operation. MPA staff and Hong Lam Marine crewmembers were also involved in a methanol firefighting program.

MPA is now developing a technical reference for methanol bunkering that would cover refuelling requirements, operational and safety requirements for delivery of methanol from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, and crew training and competency.

It intends to develop other operational and safety protocols, training for seafarers and studies of infrastructure needs. MPA also plans to present its learnings to the International Maritime Organization later this year to support the safe adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.