BSM unveils methanol training simulator

This new training platform equips seafarers with the skills needed to handle methanol – a key alternative fuel – safely and efficiently.

An ammonia bunkering simulation module is expected to follow in early 2026, further strengthening BSM’s commitment to low-carbon operations.

“The maritime decarbonisation depends not just on new technologies, but also on the people who operate them,” said Sebastian von Hardenberg, chief executive of BSM. “Their capabilities are the foundation for safe and efficient vessel operations and a successful energy transition.”

The Kochi simulator is the first of three, with additional units to be launched in Poland and the Philippines by the end of 2025. Together, these simulators will offer global access to high-impact, risk-free training on methanol and ammonia bunkering.

BSM is also preparing for the operational demands of its first methanol-fuelled ships, arriving later this year. With over 350 methanol-powered vessels expected by 2030, BSM’s focus on training is both timely and essential.

“We must be prepared for a multi-fuel future,” said Capt. Gurpreet Singh, group general manager for training. “The new Wärtsilä simulator allows our seafarers to train in a realistic environment. It’s not just technology investment, it’s a commitment to competence and safety.”

BSM is also upskilling its instructors through global train-the-trainer programmes and has developed a full suite of simulation-based and firefighting courses aligned with IMO’s IGF Code.