A Singaporean shipping company on Monday achieved the world’s first simultaneous refueling of a container ship with biomethanol while loading cargo at a port.
According to Shmuel Yoskovitz, CEO of Singapore-based X-Press Feeders, simultaneous loading and refueling quickens the ship’s turnaround time.
He added that with the beyond regular time, the ship can sail slower, reducing fuel consumption and resulting in lower costs and emissions.
According to data from the International Maritime Organization, global maritime transport is liable for 2.89 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, it’s more polluting than air transport.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for X-Press Feeders and the global marine industry,” said Francis Goh, the corporate’s chief operating officer.
He told reporters that, so far as they know, it was the primary simultaneous port refueling with green methanol.
Green methanol, or biomethanol, consists of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) and “green hydrogen”, which is created by utilizing renewable energy to separate water molecules.
According to X-Press Feeders, compared to standard marine fuels, eco-friendly methanol has a lower carbon footprint, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 65 percent.
Last yr, the ship was refueled with biomethanol via one other ship, but this was done at sea.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, which supported Monday’s refueling at Tuas Port, has signaled its readiness to supply methanol bunkering on a industrial scale.
This city serves the world’s second largest port and is a serious bunkering hub.
Last yr, in a bid to satisfy greenhouse gas reduction targets set by the European Union, Danish shipping giant Maersk launched the primary biomethanol-powered container ship.
The X-Press Feeders vessel is the primary vessel made in China that may run on each conventional fuel and eco-friendly methanol.
The company said it can add 14 such dual-fuel ships to its fleet this yr and next.
