Maersk, Golden Island. and PSA Singapore (PSA) have successfully completed Singapore’s first ethanol bunkering operation at PSA’s Pasir Panjang Terminal, with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
The operation was conducted simultaneously with cargo operations (Simops), with bioethanol bunkered using a mass flow meter. Maersk Halifax, a Singapore-registered dual-fuel container vessel, was bunkered with approximately 5000t of ISCC-certified bioethanol from Golden Island’s Singapore-registered IMO Type II chemical tanker, Golden Centaurus, while container operations were carried out concurrently. This is thought to be the largest volume of ethanol bunkered in a single operation globally to date.
The operation is expected to provide data and learning points to assess how Singapore’s existing methanol bunkering technical reference, TR 129, could be adapted for ethanol bunkering. Ethanol has similar handling characteristics to methanol and can be used in methanol-capable engines, subject to the necessary modifications. The findings will also inform whether existing mass flow meter systems can be used for future ethanol bunkering operations.
Prior to the Simops, participating parties conducted a hazard identification and hazard and operability study workshop. MPA worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure crew members were trained in handling the marine fuel and associated emergency responses, drawing on experience from methanol bunkering.
Ang Wee Keong, MPA CEO, said: “This operation allows us to test how Singapore’s experience and existing infrastructure for methanol bunkering can support another emerging marine fuel. The findings will help us develop the standards and procedures needed for safe and efficient ethanol bunkering, as we continue to prepare Singapore for a multi-fuel future.”
Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets, Maersk, added: “The energy transition requires us to explore and scale solutions that can deliver real-world impact. At Maersk, we continue to pursue a multi-fuel strategy because we recognise that no single fuel pathway can decarbonise global shipping on its own.”
Johnny Tan, Managing Director, Golden Island, said: “We are proud to have delivered Singapore’s first ethanol bunkering, and to have done it alongside live cargo operations, using a mass flow meter. Our crew and Golden Centaurus built on what we learned in methanol bunkering and followed the same safety-first discipline. That let us deliver the largest single ethanol bunker to date safely and on time. We thank MPA, Maersk and PSA for their close collaboration. Golden Island will keep investing in the people, vessels and know-how needed to supply lower-carbon fuels, so that customers can choose the fuel that best meets their decarbonisation goals in the Port of Singapore.”
Nelson Quek, Regional CEO Southeast Asia, PSA International, concluded, “The successful completion of the Simops at Pasir Panjang Terminal marks an important step in advancing our operational readiness for a wider range of lower-carbon fuel options, supporting PSA’s commitment to sustainability and the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts. Safety remains our foremost priority, and this operation provides valuable insights into how ethanol bunkering can be safely integrated with container terminal operations. PSA Singapore will continue to work closely with our partners to strengthen our capabilities, build operational resilience, and support the safe, efficient, and scalable adoption of new marine fuels as we enable a more sustainable maritime ecosystem.”
Image: Ethanol bunkering in Singapore (source: MPA)
