China Marine Bunker PetroChina (Chimbusco), a shipping service company in the Cosco Shipping group, reports that it has initiated two group standards: the ‘Marine Methanol Fuel Waterborne Refuelling Regulations’ and ‘Marine Methanol Fuel’.
The standards have been produced in conjunction with China Petroleum Circulation Association (CPCA) and the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association (CIQA). At the same time, China Classification Society (CCS) and Bureau Veritas (BV) issued AiP certificates to Chimbusco and Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry with respect to a 7,800t dual-fuel powered green methanol bunkering vessel.
This is the first set of standards in China for methanol refuelling operations and quality control, which fills a gap in the domestic market. Additionally, the green methanol bunkering vessel that has now obtained AiP from two classification societies is expected to set a solid technical foundation for massive production in the future. These moves are said to be significant, representing a major step towards completing the first green methanol refuelling technology chain in China. This achievement is complemented by the establishment of relevant methanol refuelling guidelines and inspection specifications by CCS and BV.
Alex Gregg-Smith, BV SVP, said: “This vessel is the first of its kind designed in China and represents a significant milestone in the shipping industry’s decarbonisation efforts. It demonstrates promising progress in the construction of the methanol supply chain.”
CCS VP Zhao Yan said: “The 7,800t dual-fuel powered green methanol bunkering vessel has been designed with the concept of ‘full life cycle’. It features a domestically made four-stroke methanol dual-fuel main engine, a liquid cargo pump in the form of a machine belt, a pre-installed berthing perception system, and a remote-control refuelling arm operation system. These advanced technologies showcase the industry’s cutting-edge advancements and highlight the ship’s green, intelligent, and digital characteristics.”
Chimbusco is said to have become one of the world’s three leading marine fuel suppliers, supplying more than 20m tons of fuel globally each year. Chimbusco explores and conducts research on new ship fuels, collaborating with the shipping industry to promote the green transformation of shipping through the following initiatives:
- Expanding the coverage of the fuel supply network and the scope of refuelling services;
- Upgrading technology research and development capabilities to drive practical innovation in the industry;
- Improving existing operational capabilities to broaden the pathways for reducing carbon emissions;
- Enhancing leadership in setting industry standards and expanding collaborative research initiatives.
