Methanol bunkering kicks off in Rotterdam

OCI Global bunkered the green methanol-powered container vessel, owned by Maersk, with OCI HyFuels green methanol for the final leg of its maiden voyage.

Maersk will be deploying the vessel between Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea. The retrofitted vessel will run on methanol, but it will also be able to switch to low-sulphur fuel oil.

Pivotal step

The new 2,100 teu vessel is a stepping stone towards a much larger order of methanol vessels to be placed by Maersk. In 2021 and 2022, the shipping company ordered eighteen container ships of about 16,000 teu for the Asia-Europe Route. They are set to become operational in 2024 and 2025.

OCI Global has been working with partners across the value chain to exclusively supply the containership throughout its maiden voyage.

Later on the voyage, bunkering took place in East Port Said port in Egypt, said to be the first of its kind in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East.

The ship’s journey has also provided the opportunity to develop and share bunkering guidelines among the global ports involved that will help form a framework for future green methanol powered ships.

OCI Global and the Port of Rotterdam already have a longstanding partnership, working together on a number of decarbonisation initiatives.

OCI Global operates the Port of Rotterdam’s only ammonia import terminal, which it is in the process of expanding to triple its throughput capacity, in anticipation of growing demand for ammonia, including as a future marine fuel.

Last month also saw the closing of an agreement with X-Press Feeders that will form the basis for the supply of green methanol in Rotterdam. This will be used for the new dual-fuel vessels as of next year.

Also the start of this year, OCI closed an agreement with Unibarge for the conversion of an existing bunker vessel into a methanol vessel, which will also be deployed at the Port of Rotterdam next year.