A.P. Moller-Maersk’s methanol dual-fuel container ship Maersk Flinders has completed the first ship-to-ship (STS) methanol bunkering operation for a newbuild vessel at a Zhejiang shipyard, according to China Classification Society (CCS).
The operation took place on June 27 at Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding, with the methanol bunker vessel Jia Chen 17 supplying 795 mt of methanol to the Maersk Flinders, CCS said in a press release issued Wednesday, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
According to CCS, the bunkering process took approximately 5.5 hours to complete, following safety inspections that confirmed the bunkering system and emergency procedures met required operational standards.
Zhoushan Joins Shanghai as Methanol-Ready Port
The milestone establishes Zhoushan as the second port in China, after Shanghai, with the capability to conduct routine STS methanol bunkering operations, CCS noted. This expansion comes as the shipping industry continues to build out infrastructure to support alternative marine fuels.
CCS further stated that only around 15 ports worldwide currently offer methanol bunkering services, underscoring the limited but growing global network available to methanol-fueled vessels.
Does This Matter to You?
The successful completion of this bunkering operation signals continued progress in methanol fuel infrastructure development, particularly in China’s shipbuilding sector. As newbuild methanol dual-fuel vessels enter service, the availability of bunkering capability at shipyards themselves—rather than solely at established ports—could streamline vessel delivery and fuel testing processes.
With only approximately 15 ports globally offering methanol bunkering according to CCS, the addition of Zhoushan to this network may be relevant to those tracking the geographic spread of alternative fuel availability. Parties involved in newbuild delivery, fuel supply chain planning, or monitoring the pace of methanol infrastructure rollout may find this development worth noting. The source material does not provide further detail on broader implications beyond this specific operation.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker, China Classification Society (CCS)
