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.
“The launch of this expression of interest (EOI) marks an important step towards development of a methanol licensing framework to enable the supply of methanol at scale in the Port of Singapore,” said Teo Eng Dih, MPA chief executive.
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.
