Singapore and Qingdao plan methanol bunker pilots for direct route

The ports will also study pooling methanol bunker demand under the Singapore-China green shipping corridor.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Qingdao Port, part of Shandong Port Group, have signed a work plan to explore pilot and demonstration projects that bunker ships on direct Singapore-Qingdao routes with methanol and other zero or near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission fuels. A timeline on when the pilots are to start has not been specified.

The two sides will also study how to pool methanol bunker demand and share know-how on bunker standards and operating procedures.

Qingdao hosted its first methanol bunkering in August 2025, when the container ship Cosco Shipping Carnation took 200 mt. The 24,000-TEU OOCL Wisdom then received 1,500 mt of green methanol ship-to-ship at the port in July.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →