Shandong Port Qingdao Port Completes First Ship-to-Ship Methanol Bunkering Operation
On August 14, the “COSCO Shipping Carnation” vessel successfully completed a 210-ton methanol bunkering operation at Berth 79 in the Qianwan Port Area of Shandong Port Qingdao Port. This marks the first successful ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation at Qingdao Port, and represents another significant achievement in the port's efforts to enhance its capabilities for bunkering multiple types of green marine fuels, following the establishment of routine bunkering operations for biofuel oil. This milestone positions Qingdao Port as a facility capable of both biofuel and methanol bunkering, elevating its green energy bunkering capabilities to a new level and further streamlining the supply of green marine fuels.
Currently, the global port and shipping industry is actively exploring accelerated application pathways for clean fuels. As an alternative fuel for the low-carbon transformation of international shipping vessels, methanol has emerged as a new choice for the industry. Compared to traditional fuels, methanol combustion produces virtually no sulfur oxides (SOx) and significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), demonstrating excellent environmental performance. Additionally, methanol can be synthesized from various raw materials such as natural gas, biomass, and carbon dioxide, making it renewable. In the global wave of green shipping transformation, it is gaining increasing favor from mainstream shipowners due to its strong controllability and high adaptability. According to data from the Norwegian Ship Classification Society (DNV), in the first half of 2025, a total of 151 alternative fuel-powered vessels were ordered globally, with 40 of them being methanol-powered.
To ensure the smooth operation of the first methanol bunkering service, Qingdao Port collaborated with COSCO Shipping Container Lines and China Ship Fuel on a full-process coordination. Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal Co., Ltd. and Ark Intelligent, as the implementing units, closely coordinated with China Ship Fuel Qingdao Co., Ltd., drawing on international best practices from advanced ports. They addressed technical and management challenges related to climate conditions, policy environments, operational processes, and methanol characteristics, establishing a safe and efficient methanol bunkering model that provides a reliable reference for routine operations.
This operation utilized land-based skid-mounted refueling equipment. Prior to the refueling, the Qingdao Free Trade Zone Administration Committee organized multiple specialized meetings in collaboration with the Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration, Huangdao Customs, Huangdao Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, Qingdao Free Trade Zone Tax Bureau, and West Coast New Area Transportation Bureau to systematically discuss and review key aspects such as operational preparations, procedures, risk points, and emergency response plans. They conducted a precise analysis of operational challenges, developed feasible solutions, and organized joint methanol refueling drills involving all relevant parties prior to the operation to ensure the entire process was safe and controllable.
The successful completion of this methanol bunkering operation fully demonstrates the outstanding resource integration capabilities and efficient collaborative operational system of Shandong Port Qingdao Port. It is understood that Shandong Port plans to gradually provide comprehensive green alternative energy bunkering services, including methanol, LNG, and liquid ammonia, across the entire Shandong region, striving to establish itself as a leading green ship fuel bunkering hub in North China. The port will continue to enhance its green alternative energy bunkering service network, contributing more to the accelerated development of a world-class marine port cluster.
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