HMM Green, a new 9,000 TEU methanol-powered container ship operated by South Korea's Hyundai Merchant Marine, is set to complete its first ship-to-ship bunkering of bio-methanol at Shanghai's Yangshan Port.

This milestone operation will be facilitated by the Haigang Zhiyuan, China's first methanol bunkering ship and the world's largest of its kind.

Tailored for methanol transportation and efficient ship-to-ship bunkering operations during container handling, the vessel is revolutionizing operations in modern port environments.

Having previously conducted China's first-ever ship-to-ship green methanol refueling for Astrid Maersk in April 2024, the vessel has been offering regular methanol bunkering services at Yangshan Port since January.

HMM Green, the first of the nine dual-fuel methanol-powered container ships ordered by HMM in 2023, positions the company as the fourth globally to invest in such eco-friendly vessels.

The company is expected to receive the remaining eight ships in the years leading up to 2026.

Bio-methanol is made of waste resources. Compared to traditional fossil fuels, it can reduce carbon emissions by more than 65 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent, while eliminating sulfur oxide emissions completely.

In March 2024, HMM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai International Port Group to explore long-term cooperation in areas such as green energy purchase and supply for HMM's future liquefied natural gas and green methanol dual-fuel vessels.

Shanghai, alongside leading ports like Singapore and Rotterdam, stands at the forefront of the global methanol bunkering service landscape, underscoring the industry's collective efforts towards a greener, more sustainable future for maritime transportation.

Sources: thepaper.cn, official websites of HMM and SIPG