Singapore | November 28, 2025 – Just days after the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced its first tranche of methanol bunkering licenses, successful applicant Golden Island Pte Ltd has provided a powerful demonstration of its market readiness, confirming that four dedicated methanol-capable tankers will be operational by the start of Q1 2026.
Golden Island was one of only three firms awarded the five-year license by the MPA, effective January 1, 2026. The company’s focus on execution, including a commitment to specialized vessels made when the market outlook was still uncertain in 2023, was instrumental in satisfying the MPA’s rigorous criteria, which included supply chain reliability and operational readiness.
The company’s fleet, comprising the IMO Type II chemical tankers GOLDEN ANTARES, GOLDEN SIRIUS, GOLDEN CENTAURUS, and GOLDEN CARINA, will be fully ready for methanol operations in the first quarter of the year, providing immediate scale and operational redundancy for the nascent market.
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Proactive Investment Anchors Singapore’s Multi-Fuel Future
Golden Island’s proactive investment strategy aligns perfectly with Singapore’s ambition to evolve into a sustainable, multi-fuel bunkering hub. The company emphasized its strategic foresight in a statement:
“We have been very focused and committed to our decarbonisation roadmap; when the market outlook was still unclear in 2023, Golden Island had already committed to four IMO Type II chemical tankers to supply low-carbon methanol as marine fuel.”
This level of early commitment distinguished Golden Island among the 13 applicants and ensures a robust asset base is in place from the official license start date. The GOLDEN ANTARES, for example, has already completed key milestones, including the loading of ISCC EU-certified green methanol in Tianjin and arrival in Singapore to prepare for Mass Flow Meter (MFM) acceptance testing under the new Technical Reference for Methanol Bunkering (TR 129) standard.
Global Supply Chains and Agility as Key Differentiators
Golden Island underscored that its success is built on more than just physical assets. The company pointed to strategic partnerships as essential for navigating the complex and volatile landscape of alternative fuel supply:
“We are collaborating with global partners to form supply chains that can bring value to our clients. These partnerships allow us to expand our network and create an agile and responsive environment to handle volatile situations.”
This focus on forming resilient global supply chains and securing sustainable methanol feedstock was a core assessment point for the MPA and is critical for building market confidence.
The company concluded with enthusiasm: “We will continue to align ourselves to support scaling methanol bunkering not just in Singapore, but at a global scale… We are excited to begin methanol bunkering for our clients with the newly awarded methanol bunkering licence.”
Golden Island: A Legacy of Market-Leading Adoption
Founded in 1982, Golden Island has a history of pioneering fuel transitions in the world’s largest bunkering port. The company was the first supplier in Singapore to offer Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO 0.5%) in 2019 ahead of the IMO 2020 deadline. Now, with its ISCC EU Certification, the firm is setting the pace for the low-carbon transition, ensuring the safe, compliant, and scalable supply of methanol alongside conventional and biofuel products.
Source: Golden Island Pte Ltd