Stena Bulk JV completes first barge-to-ship methanol bunkering in US Gulf

Stena Pro Marine was bunkered with 1,408M tonnes of methanol, and Stena Prosperous was refuelled with 1,203M tonnes during the operation. Both 2022-built ships were time-chartered to a global trading house at the time of the refuelling.

Proman Stena Bulk first completed a barge-to-ship methanol bunkering in August last year at the Port of Rotterdam, when Stena Pro Patria took on the fuel during a regularly scheduled port call.

The barge bunkering in Houston was conducted with Kirby Corp, the largest tanker barge provider in the United States. 

“Kirby was pleased to be the service provider for this job,” said Kirby Marine Group president Christian O’Neil. “It was a natural for us: we have extensive expertise with methanol as a cargo, with conventional bunkering, and with barge-to-ship lightering of all manner of products. We look forward to doing this again and again in Houston and beyond.”

Methanol is widely available in the Port of Houston which is a major petrochemicals hub. The significant storage capacity means over 275,000M tonnes of methanol is available at the port, according to Proman Stena Bulk.

Proman executive director, marketing, logistics and shipping Anita Gajadhar said, “Completing the first barge-to-ship methanol bunkering on the US Gulf Coast is a tremendous achievement for the Proman Stena Bulk joint venture. The Port of Houston is a major global cargo hub with significant latent methanol storage capacity. These qualities made it a natural testbed for our first US ship-to-ship bunkering.

She added, “Proman Stena Bulk continues to work with partners across the supply chain to develop methanol bunkering facilities worldwide and at key strategic bunker hubs. Announcements like today’s continue to prove the viability of the methanol marine fuel supply chain.”

Proman is investing in its own low-carbon and green methanol production capabilities, including a new 100,000 tonne per year methanol facility in development in North America. The project is under construction with 2025 targeted for active operations. When functional, the facility will produce bio-methanol from non-recyclable forestry residues and municipal solid waste.