SIMIC

AUSTRALIA's Port of Melbourne has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with more than a handful of companies to explore the commercial feasibility of establishing a green methanol bunkering hub at the port, reports Ventura, California's gCaptain.

The companies involved in the collaboration are Maersk, CMA CGM subsidiary ANL, Maersk subsidiary Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, HAMR Energy and ABEL Energy.



The project will involve the transportation of green methanol from production sites in Bell Bay, Tasmania and Portland, Victoria to Port of Melbourne for storage and bunkering services. The MoU will serve as a starting point for the parties to work together and identify any challenges that would need to be addressed.



As the largest container port in Australia with around 3,000 ships visiting annually, Port of Melbourne's CEO Saul Cannon believes it makes sense to work together with customers, service providers and producers to understand the needs of the market as decarbonisation of the maritime industry gathers pace.



Maersk's involvement comes as it prepares to welcome its first green methanol-powered containership later this year, a 2,100-TEU feeder vessel, the first in a fleet of 18 larger containerships to be powered by green methanol.



"As an island nation with high dependency on ocean transport, it's vital that Australia takes a leadership role to enable the fuel transformation from fossil to green fuel," said Maersk Oceania marketing chief My Therese Blank.



ANL's managing director Shane Walden also supports the exploration of a bunkering hub for green methanol, saying that alternative energies are key to reducing carbon emissions throughout the supply chain.