Methanol bunker vessel arrives in Singapore for bunkering pilot

Golden Island’s bunker vessel has arrived in Singapore to begin bio-methanol bunkering trials in the world’s busiest bunkering port.

IMAGE: IMO Type-II chemical tanker, Golden Antares, docked at Singapore port. Golden Island

In April, Singapore-based bunker supplier Golden Island announced plans to launch methanol bunkering trials using its newly built IMO Type 2 tanker, Golden Antares. The vessel has now reached Singapore carrying 5,000 mt of bio-methanol for the pilot programme.

"Our bunker tanker will first undergo port formalities and have its mass flow meter (MFM) unit commissioned in Singapore," Tomohiro Yamano, general manager at Golden Island said.

The vessel will offload part of its cargo at Stolthaven Terminal on 15 August, while the remaining fuel will be kept onboard for an acceptance test to assess the MFM’s compatibility with Singapore’s methanol bunkering regulations. Golden Antares has also been fitted with additional safety measures, including fixed gas detectors and fixed thermal cameras, to meet regulatory requirements.

"We are proud to be the first mover in pushing methanol as a marine fuel in Singapore," Yamano added.

Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Towngas) has supplied bio-methanol for the pilot operation.

By Konica Bhatt

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