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Alternative Fuels

Methanol Institute: ‘Turning point’ for methanol as bunker fuel reached with A.P. Moller – Maersk leading change

‘Economics of the shipping market will be the key driver enabling methanol to be adopted at a higher pace going forth over next couple years as market begins to return to more normal rates,’ states COO.

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NYK methanol bunkering at Rotterdam port on 21 July 2021

The adoption of methanol as a bunker fuel reached “a significant turning point” in 2022 due to developments led by A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, also known as Maersk, states the Chief Operating Officer at Methanol Institute.

“The Maersk announcement was significant because they are the number one shipper in the world and the decision by them to adopt methanol as the first fuel out of the gate indicates logic in doing so,” Chris Chatterton told bunkering publication Manifold Times.

“Their decision is not purely based on lowering carbon emissions but also based on broader aspects and economics including the ability to introduce methanol far into the future with much less risk than other alternative fuels.

“Maersk was the one to start the ball rolling and this had a ripple effect prompting many competitors to seriously consider methanol as a bunker fuel at different levels [targeting IMO 2030/2050].”

Methanol Institute, which serves as the trade association for the global methanol industry, has meanwhile been heavily involved in advising on enquiries from shipowners and bunkering firms – all keen to jump onto the methanol bandwagon, shares Chatterton.

“We know new vessels are coming and they require methanol as a bunker fuel at certain trading ports; hence, we have been very busy attending enquiries advising on locations for bunkering companies to establish market presence since the beginning of 2023,” he notes.

“For starters, we believe Singapore will make very good sense for methanol bunkering operations to launch simply because the republic is well known as a top bunkering port and it has everything available for players to support methanol refuelling activity.”

A Singapore project closely being monitored by Methanol Institute is the detailed feasibility study of methanol bunkering logistics in Singapore by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Mitsui & Co. Energy Trading Singapore Pte. Ltd., Maersk Oil Trading, and American Bureau of Shipping.

The similar study features Singapore-based bunker player Kenoil Group of Companies (Kenoil) which is advising on last-mile delivery solutions for methanol bunkering.

“This study is considered by the Methanol Institute as the second major milestone for the adoption of methanol as an alternative bunker fuel for the shipping sector,” believes Chatterton.

The Methanol Institute says it is also working closely with class on a potential study for Singapore port operator and supply chain company PSA International Pte Ltd targeting methanol bunkering for smaller vessels.

“Reduction of emissions by local Singapore shipping firms will present them with a stronger case when approaching big shipping firms as a strategic partner,” he explains.

“This is the kind of work we are carrying out in the background to help domestic maritime businesses improve on their competitive advantage when serving these large international fleets – whose clients have a very big focus on sustainability and third-party emissions.”

Moving forward, Chatterton notes the return of shipping rates to pre-Covid levels and the introduction of Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements (taking effect from 2023) encouraging shippers to explore economic avenues for reducing operating costs [i.e. bunkers].

“That will translate into even more interest in methanol as a bunker fuel because the material, which is already a compliant marine fuel, is much more efficient to transport and store when compared to other alternative marine fuels,” he says.

“We need to look at today what we can do. In general, the economics of the shipping market will be the key driver enabling methanol to be adopted at a higher pace going forth over next couple years as market begins to return to more normal rates.”

Related: Maersk makes first green methanol investment of 2023 in tech start-up C1
Related: Maersk and SunGas Renewables sign letter of intent for strategic green methanol production
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Related: A.P. Moller – Maersk and Carbon Sink in partnership to accelerate green methanol production
Related: Maersk and Jordan government sign MoU to explore green methanol production
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Related: MAN ES: Methanol expected to take up to 30% of dual fuel engine orders in a few years
Related: KSOE clinches USD 1.15 billion deal with Maersk to build its six 17,000 TEU methanol-fuelled container ships
Related: Maersk orders further six methanol-fuelled 17,000 TEU newbuilds for delivery by 2025
Related: Singapore: Maersk Oil Trading, METS, Mitsui, ABS develop methanol bunkering project
Related: Pacific Environment commends A.P. Møller-Maersk for supporting US Clean Shipping Act
Related: WasteFuel launches WasteFuel Methanol Module to produce green methanol bunker fuel
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Related: Maersk inks partnership with Chinese bioenergy firm Debo for green bio-methanol project
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Related: Egypt govt enters project to introduce e-methanol for bunkering at Suez Canal by 2026
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Related: Maersk introduces design of eight carbon-neutral methanol powered container newbuilds

 

Photo credit: NYK, Waterfront Shipping, Vopak, TankMatch
Published: 27 January, 2023

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LNG Bunkering

Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, the company said Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes.

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Shell expands LNG bunkering footprint in Spain with Valencia

British oil giant Shell on Thursday (13 August) said Valencia has joined its growing network of bunkering locations, making LNG available as a marine fuel.

The successful completion of the first LNG bunkering operation in Valencia marked an important milestone for Spain and further strengthened Shell’s LNG supply capabilities across the Mediterranean. 

In a video shared by the company, bunkering vessel Alice Consulich was shown supplying an undisclosed volume of LNG to the container ship MSC Sabrina.

“As one of the region’s key maritime hubs, Valencia expands the options available to shipowners seeking LNG supply along major shipping routes,” Shell said in a social media post. 

Shell said the achievement reflected the strong collaboration across the maritime value chain, including MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Port of Valencia and Fratelli Cosulich Group.

“We look forward to making more LNG bunker deliveries in Valencia and across the Mediterranean as LNG infrastructure and capabilities continue to expand,” the company said. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Énestas and Power LNG join forces on Galveston bunkering

Énestas will provide capital, LNG transport and storage equipment, and downstream expertise to support Power LNG’s planned liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

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Stabilis Solutions enter 10-year LNG bunkering supply deal for Port of Galveston

Power LNG (Power LNG) and Mexico’s LNG infrastructure and downstream natural gas company Énestas on Wednesday (12 August) announced the execution of definitive agreements establishing a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of LNG infrastructure at the Port of Galveston.

Under the agreement, Énestas will provide capital, LNG transportation and storage equipment, and downstream operating expertise to support the development of the Harborside Terminal and Project Seawolf, Power LNG’s planned LNG liquefaction and marine bunkering facility on Pelican Island.

The partnership creates an immediate pathway to begin LNG distribution by truck while Project Seawolf is under development, supporting marine fueling, virtual pipeline customers, industrial users, and LNG exports throughout the Gulf Coast, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

“Our vision has always been to establish Galveston as the premier LNG hub for the Gulf Coast,” said Austin Terry, Founder and CEO of Power LNG. 

“Énestas brings years of operational experience, proven LNG infrastructure, and a talented team that understands how to deliver LNG safely and efficiently. Together, we can immediately begin serving customers while laying the foundation for one of the most strategic LNG bunkering facilities in North America.”

Project Seawolf will provide LNG for marine bunkering, truck loading, virtual pipeline distribution, and international exports. The facility is strategically located at the Port of Galveston, serving one of the fastest-growing cruise, cargo, and energy corridors in the United States.

For Énestas, the transaction represented an important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

“This partnership represents a natural evolution for Énestas as we expand our downstream LNG business into the United States,” said Caio Zapata, Chief Executive Officer of Énestas. 

“For more than a decade, Énestas has developed and operated LNG infrastructure throughout Mexico, helping customers transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. Partnering with Power LNG allows us to leverage that experience in one of the most attractive LNG markets in North America. We see tremendous opportunities in marine bunkering, virtual pipeline logistics, industrial LNG supply, and exports to Latin America and the Caribbean, and we are excited to build that future together.”

The companies expect the partnership to support near-term LNG truck loading operations while advancing the long-term development of Project Seawolf, which is designed to become a regional hub for LNG production, marine fueling, and distribution.

The collaboration also establishes a platform to pursue additional downstream LNG opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast, utilising Énestas’ operational expertise together with Power LNG’s project development capabilities.

 

Photo credit: Port of Galveston
Published: 14 August, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Company says the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston.

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Stabilis delivers more than 150,000 cbm of LNG bunker fuel at Galveston

Clean energy production solutions provider Stabilis Solutions (Stabilis) on Thursday (13 August) said it has completed 97 LNG bunkering operations and delivered more than 150,000 m³ of LNG to customers in the Port of Galveston.

“As the only physical supplier of LNG on the Gulf Coast to reach this milestone, we’ve earned a reputation as a trusted, proven operator — both with local Galveston stakeholders and with the world’s largest cruise operator,” the company said in a social media post.

“That trust is reflected in the 10-year LNG offtake agreement we executed in December 2025.”

The company said the advancement of its proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is a natural progression of its established LNG bunkering footprint in Galveston. 

“As a Houston-based company, we believe in the Texas economy and the future growth of the Port of Galveston,” it added.

“That belief is why we’ve invested heavily over the past four years in the planning, permitting, and engineering design work to develop the most advanced, derisked, shovel-ready small-scale LNG liquefaction project on the Gulf Coast.”

Manifold Times previously reported Stabilis stating that the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility is anticipated to be in production by the third quarter of 2028.

It will come complete with the delivery of the first new-build, dedicated Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge in the Galveston/Houston area.

This comes following Stabilis receiving a Letter of Recommendation from the US Coast Guard following their formal review of the proposed Stabilis Galveston LNG Facility and associated waterfront LNG loading, marine transportation, and LNG bunkering operations in the Port of Galveston.

Related: Stabilis Solutions targets Q3 2028 launch for Galveston LNG bunkering facility
Related: Stabilis Solutions terminates 10-year LNG supply deal, expects delay in Galveston project

 

Photo credit: Stabilis Solutions
Published: 14 August, 2026

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