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Mumbai seminar: Participants indicate confidence in methanol as a bunker fuel

With technological and regulatory challenges associated with methanol as a bunker fuel largely resolved, it’s time for the industry to embrace methanol, says organiser.

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With the technological and regulatory challenges associated with burning methanol as a bunker fuel largely resolved, it’s time for the industry to move forward and get ready to go green with methanol.

That was the view widely expressed at Rise of Methanol As A Future Proof Marine Fuel seminar held in Mumbai and online on Friday (29 April), says Sea Commerce America Inc, one of the seminar organisers.

It was back in August 2021 that methanol secured its position as a future marine fuel when A.P. Moller – Maersk announced an order for 12 large ocean-going container ships to operate on carbon-neutral methanol. 

This landmark order has raised the profile of this promising fuel. However, each shipowner faces unique challenges, and it is not enough to just follow Maersk’s lead and expect success. 

In the seminar the panel of experts spoke in detail on installation options, fuel cost and availability, bunkering infrastructure, and e-fuel production potential.

Today, methanol made from natural gas, offers a lifecycle GHG reduction of 5-15% compared to diesel as well as immediate reductions in SOx, NOx, and particulate matter. Methanol offers a 2% lower fuel consumption per kWh than diesel fuel, and engine corrosion and fuel slip are not an issue due to the high combustion rate achieved by the engine designers. 

In case of a spill, methanol is miscible in water, with near zero risk of damage to the environment and near zero potential harm to the wildlife. 

IMO regulations on handling methanol are well developed within the IGF Code and the Methyl/Ethyl Interim guidelines. Still to come could be rules for methanol bunkering and standards for fuel quality. 

Class oversight is well established. ABS, a pioneer in this, will class the Maersk vessels, and its safety evaluation will include design considerations such as the need for cofferdams between fuel tanks and fire risk areas, double-barriers and sealing systems, ventilation and gas detection, explosion mitigation, and redundancy.

The Maersk newbuilds will require larger bore engines than current dual-fuel methanol LGIM installations, and MAN expects a further increase in engine size to be available soon. This will open up the market for other large, ocean-going vessels, and MAN is already seeing a lot of interest in retrofits.

Berit Hinnemann from Maersk talked about the partnership Maersk has entered into with the producers of Green Methanol to supply their methanol-powered fleet. Maersk will require 10,000 tonnes in the year 2023 and 500,000 tonnes by mid-2025. 

Berit also mentioned that Maersk sees “methanol in combination with biodiesel for the pilot vessel as the only certain and scalable pathway towards significant impact this decade.”

These 16,000 TEU DF Maersk vessels are to be classed with ABS and will provide “20 percent improved energy efficiency per transported container”.

Mr. Vikrant Rai, took over the stage and presented the regulatory views on the subject. He also stressed upon the importance of port energy enhancements and ship energy enhancements.

The event was designed to address the needs of shipowners and operators, and moderated by Richard Clayton, Chief Correspondent at Lloyds List. Speakers, including the host and organiser Capt. Saleem Alavi, delved into the technical, commercial, and regulatory details. 

Top industry experts spoke on the occasion including Berit Hinnemann, Head of De-Carbonization Business Development at Maersk; Ayca Yalcin, Director Market Development EMEA at Methanex; Chris Chatterton, Chief Operating Officer at the Methanol Institute; Fredrik Stubner, Chief Executive Officer, Green Marine Engineering; Kjeld Aabo, Director New Technology at MAN Energy Solutions; Rene Laursen, Manager of Global Gas Solutions at ABS; Vijay Arora, Managing Director Indian Register of Shipping; Vikrant Rai, Engineer & Ship Surveyor cum-Deputy DG(Tech), Mumbai.

Most of the nearly 400 event participants indicated that they had more confidence in methanol’s viability as a bunker fuel after hearing from the expert presenters. 

The event organisers were Sea Commerce America Inc. and Institute of Marine Engineers of India’s Mumbai Branch and sponsored by Methanex, Canada and Methanol Institute, Singapore. 

 

Photo credit: Sea Commerce America Inc.
Published: 20 May, 2022

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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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