News and Articles

• Japan completed its first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering at anchorage in Yokohama Port
• Biomethanol from MGC’s Niigata Plant was transferred between two chartered vessels
• Operation followed national guidelines and simulation trials conducted in 2024
• MOL plans to expand its fleet of LNG and methanol-fuelled vessels by 2030
• Yokohama is advancing its Carbon Neutral Port plan targeting net-zero emissions by 2050

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines completed Japan’s first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering at anchorage on 6 February at Yokohama Port, marking a practical step forward in the country’s push toward lower emission marine fuels. The operation saw methanol transferred offshore rather than at a terminal berth, a shift that signals growing confidence in handling alternative fuels under working port conditions.

The fuel was moved from the 498 gross tonne coastal tanker Eika Maru to the 29,969 gross tonne ocean-going carrier Kohzan Maru VII at the Keihin Port Yokohama District NR Anchorage. Both vessels are chartered by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company. Kokuka Sangyo operates the Eika Maru, while MOL operates the Kohzan Maru VII. The coordination required precise timing, safety management, and technical alignment between crews and onshore partners to complete the transfer without incident.

The methanol supplied during the operation was domestically produced biomethanol from MGC’s Niigata Plant. It is intended for future use as fuel aboard the Kohzan Maru VII, reflecting a supply chain that begins with local production and extends directly to vessel consumption. Using fuel produced in Japan also highlights efforts to secure stable sources of alternative marine fuels within the country.

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The project was carried out through cooperation between MOL, the City of Yokohama, Kokuka Sangyo, Idemitsu Kosan, and MGC. The groundwork for the operation was laid by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism through its Study Group on the Formation of Methanol Bunkering Hubs, active from 2024 to 2025. A methanol bunkering simulation conducted at Yokohama Port in September 2024 provided operational data and helped refine safety procedures. Input from stakeholders involved in domestic chemical transport also informed the approach, particularly in relation to handling and logistics.

MOL has prior experience with methanol-fuelled vessels, having launched the world’s first methanol dual-fuel ship in 2016. Since then, it has expanded its fleet to include eight such carriers. The company plans to introduce 90 LNG and methanol-fuelled vessels by 2030 as part of its goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the group by 2050 under its Environmental Vision 2.2 plan.

Yokohama’s role in the project aligns with its Carbon Neutral Port initiative, which targets net-zero emissions by 2050. The city is working to upgrade port functions with decarbonisation in mind, including support for next-generation fuels for ships and coastal industries. Establishing methanol bunkering capability at anchorage strengthens the port’s position as a potential hub for alternative marine fuels.

MGC is advancing its Carbopath platform, which produces methanol by recycling captured carbon dioxide, waste plastics, and biomass using proprietary technology and in-house catalysts. Kokuka Sangyo brings decades of experience in transporting methanol domestically and internationally, having operated dedicated carriers and chemical tankers since the 1960s. The successful bunkering operation brought together production, transport, port management, and vessel operation in a single coordinated effort, offering a working model for future methanol supply chains in Japan.