VPS, a world-leading maritime decarbonization advisory services company, has become the first to complete a methanol bunker quantity survey (BQS) operation in Singapore on July 27, 2023. The global shipping fleet is working towards meeting challenging decarbonization targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for 2030 and 2050, in addition to complying with regional legislative requirements. As part of this drive, the industry is exploring various low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel options, including methanol.
VPS was appointed by Maersk and Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd to undertake the very first bunker quantity survey (BQS) of a methanol fuel delivery, supplied by Hong Lam to the Maersk vessel, which is yet to be officially named, on its maiden voyage to Europe. The operation was overseen by the Maritime Port Authority (MPA), ensuring that all parties met the stringent safety requirements in accordance with their MPA-associated vetting.
Nick Clague, VPS Head of Sustainable Fuels, stated, “This bunkering of methanol represents a significant milestone in the steps being taken by the shipping industry to reduce emissions and ultimately decarbonize.”
Prior to the first methanol delivery, various levels of pre-delivery work were required, including the delivery barge tank-cleaning operation and a partial loading of methanol to the barge, to ensure no cross-contamination could take place during the actual delivery.
As part of the BQS operation, VPS also conducted the required closed-sampling procedure to collect representative samples of the methanol delivered to the vessel. These samples have now been transferred to a VPS Laboratory for quality testing.
Over the past 12 months, as the world’s leading marine fuel testing company, VPS has made significant investments in new laboratory equipment and R&D to provide a comprehensive methanol testing service related to its use as a marine fuel.
Captain Rahul Choudhuri, VPS MD AMEA, stated, “Being involved in such a high-profile and historic event here in Singapore has been a privilege for VPS. Maersk and Hong Lam’s commitment to decarbonization in shipping, along with the support of the MPA, marks a major step forward, and we are proud to have played our part today and in the future.”
Additionally, in his role as Chair of the Technical Committee (TC) for Bunkering (Ambient Liquid Fuels) under the Singapore Standards Council (SSC) & SDO@SCIC (Standards Development Organization), Captain Choudhuri added, “Such a demonstration of successful methanol bunkering operations will facilitate the future development of the Technical Reference (TR) for methanol bunkering in Singapore and lay the basis for a considerable competitive advantage, positioning Singapore as the go-to multi-fuel port of the future.”
The Maersk vessel will now sail to Port Said, Egypt, where, once again, VPS will undertake the BQS, sampling, and testing of a second delivery of methanol.
The final leg of the voyage will see the vessel arrive in Rotterdam towards the end of August, with VPS completing their designated work for BQS, sampling, and testing at that time.
Source VPS Veritas Petroleum Services