Singapore launches standard for safe methanol bunkering
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.
The standard for the safe handling of methanol as a fuel in bunker operations is seen by the MPA as an important step operationalising methanol bunkering at scale.
It joins standards for bunkering that Singapore already has for conventional fuels.
The TR129 standard covers custody transfer requirements, operational and safety requirements, and guidance on use of mass flow meters (MFM). The first trial of simultaneous methanol bunkering and cargo operations was in May 2024 at Tuas Port with the use of the MFM system for methanol and digital bunkering.
David Foo, MPA Assistant Chief Executive (Operations/Operations Technology), said, “The development of the Technical Reference 129 on the safe and efficient use of methanol for bunkering in Singapore is the result of the collective efforts by government agencies, industry partners, and research institutes. It provides clear guidelines to support the safe adoption of methanol as a marine fuel and gives the industry greater confidence in their transition to use of sustainable fuels.”
