World Leading Maritime Decarbonisation Advisory Services company VPS, is the first company to complete a methanol bunker quantity survey (BQS) operation in Singapore, on 27th July 2023.

The global shipping fleet is working towards meeting challenging decarbonisation targets set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2030 and 2050, along with additional regional legislative requirements. As part of this drive, many low-carbon and zero carbon fuel options are being considered to assist in the reduction of emissions from vessels, 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 all parties met the stringent safety requirements, following 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 decarbonise.” 

Prior to this 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 crosscontamination could take place, during the actual delivery.

VPS, as part of the BQS operation, also undertook the required closed-sampling procedure to harvest representative samples of the methanol delivered to the vessel, which 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 invested heavily in new laboratory equipment and R&D to provide a comprehensive methanol testing service in relation to methanol as a marine fuel.

Captain Rahul Choudhuri, VPS MD AMEA, said, “For VPS to have been involved in such a high-profile and historic event here in Singapore, has been a privilege. Maersk and Hong Lam have taken a major step forward in shipping’s drive towards decarbonisation, along with the support of the MPA, 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 of considerable competitive advantage for Singapore as a 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 nominated work for BQS, sampling and testing at that time.

Contact

For further information regarding VPS Services relating to methanol as a bunker fuel, please contact Steve Bee, VPS Group Commercial Director, steve.bee@vpsveritas.com