Xiamen has become the first port in China’s Fujian Province to publish dedicated safety guidelines for ship methanol bunkering, according to Ship & Bunker, citing a Fujian authority statement released on Tuesday.
The framework was jointly developed by the Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration, the Xiamen Port Authority, and the Xiamen Free Trade Zone Commission, as reported by Ship & Bunker. It marks the first safety standard in the province specifically targeting methanol fuel transfer operations for vessels.
What the Guidelines Cover
According to Ship & Bunker, the new standard addresses the entire bunkering process from start to finish. This includes requirements for the qualifications of fuel suppliers, technical specifications for bunkering vessel equipment, hose inspection protocols, and certification standards for personnel involved in the operation, along with mandatory protective equipment.
Before any bunkering operation can begin, operators must complete a dedicated safety assessment and have an emergency response plan in place, Ship & Bunker reports. Once underway, the guidelines call for continuous monitoring throughout the transfer, with operations subject to weather condition restrictions. Following the bunkering process, fuel pipelines must be purged and inerted, according to the report.
Building on Existing Alternative Fuel Experience
Ship & Bunker notes that Xiamen Port has already conducted ship-to-ship bunkering operations involving biofuels and LNG, suggesting the port is positioning itself to expand its alternative fuel capabilities as methanol bunkering activity increases. The new guidelines are intended to provide a regulatory and operational framework to support this anticipated growth, according to the report.
Does This Matter to You?
For vessel operators and bunker suppliers considering methanol-fuelled newbuilds or retrofits calling at Chinese ports, formal safety standards like those introduced in Xiamen provide clearer operational expectations and compliance requirements. As methanol gains traction as an alternative marine fuel, ports establishing structured bunkering protocols may influence where operators choose to conduct fuel transfers, particularly given the specific handling, monitoring, and personnel certification demands methanol presents compared to conventional fuels.
The source material does not indicate a timeline for when methanol bunkering operations will commence in Xiamen under these guidelines, nor does it specify current methanol bunkering volumes at the port.
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
