Port of Singapore publishes rules on methanol bunkering

In Singapore, The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), have published a new Technical Reference (TR) 129 on Methanol Bunkering to provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative fuel for bunkering operations. This marks an important step towards operationalizing methanol bunkering at scale and driving Singapore’s ambitions as a sustainable, multi-fuel bunkering hub.  

TR 129 sets out requirements covering safe handling, transfer, and measurement of methanol in bunkering operations. These include: 

·      Custody transfer requirements, comprising quantity and quality measurements for ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operations; 

·      Operational and safety requirements for the delivery of methanol from a bunker tanker to receiving vessels, including a framework for crew training and competencies; and 

·      Guidance on the use of mass flow meters (MFM) to ensure accurate quantity management and digital documentation for bunkering.