Our Marine Energy team placed an order for its first methanol bunker tanker

We are proud to announce the placement of an order for our first methanol dual-fuelled chemical bunker tanker.

The 7,990 DWT vessel will be an IMO Type II chemical tanker, with a capacity of over 8,000 m3, and with coating suitable for both biofuel and methanol carriage. She will be equipped with twin fixed pitch propellers, each driven by an electrical motor via gearbox, and three dual-fuelled generator sets supplied by MAN Energy Solutions.

The chemical tanker will be built in China by Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Our colleagues at Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers Singapore will oversee all the technical management and operations of the vessel. Her delivery will occur in the last quarter of 2025, and the vessel will operate in Singapore under a fixed-rate time charter contract with Trafigura, a global commodities trader.

Methanol has recently gained prominence as a viable future fuel, as the global order book for methanol-fueled ships has been gaining ground and many shipping companies have included methanol in their decarbonisation strategies.

The Port of Singapore is also undertaking necessary planning in order to ensure a steady supply of methanol from 2025 onward, so as to meet these future bunkering needs.

In the words of Guido Cardullo, Head of Marine Energy Business Development, “This is an additional step in the direction of a multi-fuel future, after having built two LNG bunker vessels. This important investment reaffirms our Group’s commitment to decarbonisation. We are proud to strengthen our relationship with Trafigura, a key player in the industry.