SINGAPORE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) is inviting applications for methanol bunker supplier licenses at the Port of Singapore, aiming to establish a full-scale methanol supply model, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Accelerating Digitalization and Decarbonization Conference, part of Singapore Maritime Week, Khor said the move responds to growing interest from shipowners in using methanol as a marine fuel.
Alongside the recently published Technical Reference for Methanol Bunkering and Standards for the Port Limit Methanol Bunker Tankers, this initiative aims to ensure a standardized and safe approach to methanol adoption in shipping, she added.
Khor also introduced a new Technical Reference standard to support charging infrastructure and battery swap systems for electric harborcraft, part of Singapore's broader push toward sustainable maritime operations.
Despite global uncertainties affecting climate commitments and the high costs of key decarbonization solutions, Khor said that reducing emissions should be seen as a competitive advantage rather than an additional expense.
Singapore has been actively advancing low- and zero-carbon fuels, she said. For instance, authorities have been using virtual simulations to assess the safety and environmental impact of ammonia bunkering operations, a method also applied to other alternative fuels like LNG and methanol. ■
