First barge-to-ship methanol bunkering

The Takaroa Sun owned by NYK Bulkship and chartered by Waterfront Shipping, part of the Methanex Corporation, was joined at the Vopak Terminal Botlek at the Port of Rotterdam by 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.

The bunkering demonstration provided further evidence of methanol as a low emission, safe and simple to handle fuel that can help achieve a low-carbon future. Liquid at ambient temperature and miscible in water, methanol produces up to 15% lower carbon emissions during combustion than traditional fuel oil and is MARPOL Annex VI compliant for SOx emissions, particulate matter and Tier III NOx emissions.

“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 Andre Nieman, chief executive of TankMatch.

Waterfront Shipping has recently ordered a further 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 methanol dual-fuel technology.