Bureau Veritas supports China’s first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering at CHI Shanghai
CHI Shanghai claims the first methanol bunkering at a shipyard (Source: Credit Bureau Veritas)
Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has completed China’s first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation conducted by a shipbuilding and repair enterprise, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition towards alternative marine fuels.
The operation took place at CHI Shanghai’s shipyard terminal, where Cosco Shipping Libra safely received 2,100 tonnes of methanol fuel over a 10-hour period. Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS), the advisory arm of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, provided risk assessment and technical support throughout the process.
The project serves as a model for future methanol dual-fuel conversions and supply operations, demonstrating CHI Shanghai’s capacity to provide integrated solutions across repair, conversion and bunkering.
Ahead of the operation, CHI Shanghai conducted extensive technical reviews to verify safety and compliance for methanol bunkering of 20,000-TEU dual-fuel container ships, alongside training programmes, tabletop emergency exercises and safety management initiatives.
BVS supported the project by performing HAZID and HAZOP risk assessments across five stages, from inerting and berthing to fuel transfer and post-bunkering purging.
“By working closely with Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai), we have shown how collaboration, preparation, and rigorous risk management can make methanol bunkering both safe and practical,” said Matthieu de Tugny, executive vice president, Industrials and Commodities at Bureau Veritas.
