Maersk box ship completes first trial of new standard for methanol bunkering in Singapore

A Maersk container ship was refuelled with methanol in Singapore, marking the first trial of a new technical reference for methanol bunkering.

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported working with bunkering licensee Global Energy Trading Pte and Stellar Shipmanagement Services Pte on the refuelling effort, which saw 3,102 tonnes of methanol bunkered from Kara to Maersk’s Antonia Maersk.

This trial is significant because it validates that methanol bunkering can be carried out safely and efficiently under the new Technical Reference 129 (TR129) standard, which sets out clear requirements for the handling, transfer and measurement of methanol as a marine fuel in Singapore.

To demonstrate compliance with TR129, Kara’s mass flow metering system underwent an acceptance test to verify compliance and its performance was validated prior to the operation. The bunkering was conducted beyond daylight hours with detailed risk assessments and mitigation measures in place, including onsite weather monitoring by Kara and MPA patrol craft equipped with portable lightning detectors, according to the MPA.

MPA recently awarded three methanol bunkering licences for a five-year period starting 1 January 2026. Besides Global Energy Trading, the other licensees are Golden Island Pte Ltd and PetroChina International (Singapore).

Together with the successful completion of this TR129 trial, these efforts strengthen the Port of Singapore’s position as a leading, global bunkering hub supporting the sector’s decarbonisation pathway.