Bunkering boost for methanol, ports

Recent developments within bunkering for alternative fuels will help pave the way for greater deployment.  

The Documentary Committee of BIMCO has adopted a methanol annex to its Bunker Terms 2018. It introduces new definitions to reflect ongoing developments in the bunkering landscape. It also targets the increasing importance of sustainability certification which is intended to verify the source and environmental credentials of the fuel under regulations such as the FuelEU Maritime.

“The methanol annex has been developed in close consultation with industry stakeholders and technical experts to ensure it meets the practical and legal requirements of methanol as a marine fuel. It reflects on current industry practices and anticipates future developments in the regulatory area,” says BIMCO Documentary Committee chairperson Nicholas Fell.

The annex enables parties to specify greenhouse gas intensity limits, fossil comparators and methodologies for calculating emissions via the election sheet. The flexible approach ensures the annex can be adapted to future regulations and allow parties to agree and specify the parameters relevant to their particular contract.

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