Cooperating to deliver methanol bunkering training

The agreement between IBIA and Green Marine aims to develop a methanol bunkering training programme with support from the Methanol Institute.

“IBIA’s strategic focus on training is driven by the impending transformative changes in the maritime industry, especially concerning alternative fuel options for achieving environmental targets by 2030 and 2050,” said Timothy Cosulich, chair of IBIA.

”Our exciting partnership with Green Marine allows us to expand bunker-related courses, enriching educational opportunities.’’

Key priority

IBIA said that training remains a key priority as the world moves into a greener and more sustainable future addressing the needs of future manpower training and the future-proofing of the existing workforce.

In the first instance, IBIA and Green Marine have worked together with the crew from the supplying tanker and the bunker surveyors involved in the methanol bunkering pilot in Singapore, identifying and plugging the training gaps and competency needs prior to the pilot.

“We applaud Green Marine’s ongoing efforts to support the development of methanol as a marine fuel, now together with IBIA, effectively creating the ‘gold standard’ for safe handling and bunkering,” said Chris Chatterton, chief operating officer, The Methanol Institute. 

”These are still early days for alternative fuels, making it a necessity to collaborate on fundamental elements for their safe and efficient integration with the maritime supply chain, bunkering and on-board handling. Such partnerships allow us as an industry to go further, faster, as we transition to a lower emissions environment.”

The plan is to commence the training in Singapore first and expanding globally in 2024.