China debuts its first methanol bunkering vessel

On January 13, 2024, China’s inaugural methanol bunkering ship, Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, launched into its maiden voyage, following a conversion direction of at Zhoushan Putuo Changhong Shipbuilding Co.

The 16,000 cbm vessel, previously acknowledged Jiuli 668, underwent a 113-day retrofit at the Chinese language yard.

The conversion geared up the ship with an superior methanol gasoline machine, aligning with the enterprise’s rising point of curiosity on cleaner and more sustainable gasoline picks.

Owned by Shanghai SIPG Energy Products and services Co., a subsidiary of SIPG Community, Hai Gang Zhi Yuan can transport methanol and is designed for ship-to-ship bunkering operations all over container loading and unloading. This twin performance enhances operational efficiency and represents a pragmatic response to the demands of current port operations.

The vessel assemble bought Approval in Idea (AIP) from the China Classification Society (CCS) encourage in July 2023, allowing for the conversion direction of to kick-commence in September.

Zhejiang Seahead Ship Develop and Learn Institute Co mentioned at the time that the vessel may perchance perchance presumably be geared up with most important system like filling hoses, emergency liberate devices, dry break valves, and ESD programs to make optimistic accumulate and efficient operations.

SIPG is working with enterprise companions COSCO Transport, Notify Energy Investment Corporation (SPIC), Shanghai Worldwide Port Community (SIPG), and China Certification & Inspection Community (CCIC) on China’s first green methanol industrial chain which targets to propel shipping’s decarbonization.

The cooperation mission encompasses the production, transportation, refueling, and certification of green methanol for ships.

The intention is to leverage the companies’ advantages of their respective industries to make optimistic the successful model of all key aspects of the green methanol industrial chain and build a green methanol industrial chain that meets both home and international green certification requirements.

The events also intention to drive the implementation of the first batch of green methanol production initiatives in China.

Within the broader context of the maritime enterprise’s push towards sustainability, the adoption of methanol as a marine gasoline is gaining traction, namely inside of the container shipping section. The traipse is a strategic response to world emissions good deal targets and regulatory pressures on the maritime sector.

The principle driver unhurried the surge in passion in methanol lies in its inherent compatibility with the fresh maritime infrastructure, coupled with the ready availability of technologically extinct solutions, notably methanol-powered marine engines.

In 2023, the maritime enterprise witnessed a surge within the adoption of alternative fuels, essentially based fully on DNV’s Different Fuels Insight (AFI) platform. A total of 298 ships with alternative gasoline propulsion had been ordered, marking a appreciable produce bigger compared with old years.

Methanol emerged because the first alternative, with 138 ships ordered, a gigantic soar from the 35 ordered the old year. Container ships dominated this section, accounting for 106 orders. LNG used to be the 2nd most current alternative gasoline, with 130 vessels ordered, though showing a decline from 222 orders in 2022.