Waterfront Shipping says it has demonstrated ‘the ease’ of barge-to-ship methanol bunkering after completing the first such operation at the Port of Rotterdam yesterday (11 April).
Methanex Corporation subsidiary Waterfront Shipping says its Takaroa Sun, a long-term chartered vessel owned by NYK Bulkship (Asia), participated in the operation as the first methanol-powered ship to be fuelled by a commercial bunker barge.
The bunkering operation took place at the Vopak Terminal Botlek of Royal Vopak with a bunker barge, MTS Evidence, operated by TankMatch.
‘Waterfront Shipping has been operating methanol-fuelled ships for over five years now, accumulating over 100,000 combined operating hours—and has been bunkering methanol for its methanol dual-fuelled vessels via cargo shore pipelines near Methanex’s production facilities,’ said Paul Hexter, President of Waterfront Shipping.
‘When appropriate safety measures are followed, we know that methanol is safe to ship, store, handle and bunker using procedures similar to conventional fuels. Today’s methanol bunkering demonstration is another step in helping the shipping industry with its journey to reduce emissions.’
Waterfront Shipping said the bunkering demonstration provided further evidence of methanol as a ‘low emission, safe and simple to handle clean fuel that offers a future-proof pathway to a low-carbon future’.
Liquid at ambient temperature and miscible in water, methanol produces up to 15% carbon emissions during combustion than traditional fuel oil and is MARPOL Annex VI compliant for SOx emissions, particulate matter and Tier III NOx emissions.
Commenting, Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority, said the Dutch port – the largest bunkering port in Europe – was fully supportive of initiatives to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
‘Methanol has proven itself able to meet our very stringent safety standards and can play an important role in meeting the lower emission goals.’
Another important aspect of new fuels will be their availability as shipowners transition away from conventional fossil-based fuels – but, according to Dick Richelle, Commercial Director of Royal Vopak, this will not be an issue.
‘Methanol is globally available and has similar storage needs to conventional fuels,’ said Richelle. ‘This demonstration proves that methanol bunkering is a safe and realistic option as a clean-burning fuel with a sustainable pathway.’
And according to Andre Nieman, Chief Executive Officer of TankMatch, methanol as a marine fuel is already beginning to gain traction across the shipping industry as vessel owners mull their decarbonisation options.
‘We are increasingly hearing from vessel operators who want to understand their options for lowering their emissions and want a simple path to IMO compliance,’ said Nieman. ‘Bunkering with methanol requires a similar level of risk assessment and safety management as other conventional bunker fuels and we found this process simple to manage and execute.’
Methanex says it is committed to demonstrating ongoing leadership in the use of lower-emission methanol as a marine fuel. As previously reported, Waterfront Shipping recently ordered an additional eight methanol-fuelled vessels to be delivered between 2021 and 2023. With this latest order, approximately 60% of its 30-ship fleet will be powered by lower emission, methanol dual-fuel technology.