The World’s Largest Methanol Bunkering Ship Just Fuelled A Brand New Car Carrier In Shanghai
Our take
The recent bunkering of the M/V Arctic Tern with 2,800 metric tonnes of green methanol in Shanghai represents a significant, albeit incremental, step towards decarbonizing the maritime shipping sector. This operation, occurring at China’s largest simultaneous car-handling and bunkering facility, underscores the increasing viability of methanol as a transitional fuel. The scale of the operation – fueling a 9,300-CEU car carrier – highlights the practical application of this technology beyond pilot projects. It’s a tangible demonstration that methanol bunkering infrastructure is beginning to materialize, supporting the broader shift away from traditional fossil fuels. This development builds on recent progress, such as the [World’s First 10,800-Vehicle Car Carrier Equipped With 200-kW Solar Power System Delivered], illustrating a multifaceted approach to sustainable maritime operations. The rapid growth of container ports, as evidenced by the [World’s Busiest Container Port Handles 203,881 Containers In A Single Day Beating Its Own Record], further emphasizes the scale of the challenge and the urgency of finding cleaner fuel solutions. The partnership between Marine Insight and Azolla to [Azolla Joins Marine Insight As Co-Powering Partner To Drive Maritime Energy Transition] also points to a broader collaborative effort to accelerate the maritime energy transition.
The adoption of green methanol, produced from renewable sources, is particularly compelling because it offers a potential pathway to near-zero carbon emissions when used in combustion engines. While methanol itself isn't a perfect solution—it remains a combustible fuel with associated risks—its production pathway is significantly more sustainable than conventional marine fuels. The choice of a car carrier for this initial large-scale bunkering is noteworthy. Car carriers are a significant segment of the global fleet, and their transition to alternative fuels has a direct impact on overall emissions. Moreover, the Shanghai location is strategically important; China’s dominance in shipbuilding and its growing commitment to emissions reduction make it a crucial hub for the adoption of new maritime technologies. The logistics of this operation, managing the simultaneous car handling and bunkering, also showcases the evolving capabilities of ports to accommodate these complex procedures.
However, it’s crucial to maintain a measured perspective. The widespread adoption of green methanol faces several challenges. Scalability of green methanol production remains a key hurdle. Currently, supply is limited, and the cost of production is considerably higher than that of conventional fuels. Further investment in renewable methanol production facilities, alongside robust carbon accounting methodologies to validate the ‘green’ credentials of the fuel, will be essential. The existing infrastructure needs substantial upgrades to support the safe and efficient handling of methanol, which has different properties than traditional bunker fuels. Finally, the lifecycle assessment of methanol—considering emissions from production, transportation, and combustion—must be rigorously evaluated to ensure genuine environmental benefits. The operational data gathered from vessels like the Arctic Tern will be invaluable in refining these assessments and optimizing methanol bunkering processes.
Looking ahead, the success of this Shanghai bunkering operation will be judged not only by its immediate impact but also by its catalytic effect on the broader maritime industry. The ability to consistently and reliably supply green methanol at scale will be the deciding factor in its widespread adoption. A critical question remains: can the necessary investment in renewable methanol production and bunkering infrastructure keep pace with the growing demand from a sector facing increasingly stringent emissions regulations? The interplay between technological innovation, policy incentives, and market forces will ultimately determine whether green methanol fulfills its promise as a key component of a decarbonized maritime future.
The 9,300-CEU M/V Arctic Tern received 2,800 metric tonnes of green methanol in China’s largest simultaneous car-handling and bunkering operation.
EUKOR Car Carriers, SIPG Energy, and World Fuel Services have completed the first green methanol bunkering involving the new car carrier at the Port of Shanghai.
M/V Arctic Tern is the flagship of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s Shaper Class fleet renewal program, which consists of 14 vessels. It received the sustainable fuel via a ship-to-ship transfer at Haitong Terminal. The operation was conducted by SIPG Energy’s M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the world’s largest methanol bunkering vessel.
“Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone,” said Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR.
“It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations.”
The refuelling was conducted under Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPs), with ro-ro cargo handling taking place while the fuel transfer was underway.
It was China’s largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for a PCTC and proved that alternative fuels could be integrated into tight port calls without causing delays in vessel turnaround. The green methanol was produced in Shanghai itself, from municipal solid waste. It was certified by ISCC-EU and had a carbon intensity below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.
The Arctic Tern was constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing under the oversight of Wallenius Marine and is currently managed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
It is designed to sail on the East Asia-to-Europe trade. For EUKOR, which is jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group, using an ultra-low carbon fuel on the Europe route would reduce compliance costs under the EU ETS and FuelEU.
The EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) and FuelEU Maritime are two different European Union regulations which were designed to decarbonise the shipping industry.
While the EU ETS acts as a financial penalty on the total amount of emissions produced, FuelEU Maritime acts as a technical mandate that restricts the carbon intensity of the fuel itself.
World Fuel arranged the operation, while SIPG Energy acted as the supplier. SIPG Energy General Manager Zhang Da noted that expanding STS methanol bunkering from container ships to PCTCs positions Shanghai as Asia’s premier green energy hub.
Arctic Tern is named after the seabird which makes the longest annual migration in the world. It is a pure car and truck carrier equipped with an advanced hull air lubrication system, solar panels, shore power connections, battery packs and much more.
It is designed in such a way that it can be easily converted to run on zero-emissions ammonia fuel as supply chains for the fuel mature in future. The vessel would be followed by 13 sister ships, including 8 ‘Shaper+’ mega-carriers with a record-setting capacity of 12, 100 CEU.
In order to safely handle the increasing exports of battery-electric vehicles from China, Arctic Tern is also fitted with an upgraded voluntary fire suppression system capable of isolating two different fire zones in the cargo hold.
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