The Port of Melbourne, together with Maersk, ANL, Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, HAMR Energy and ABEL Energy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the commercial feasibility of establishing a green methanol bunkering hub.
The collaboration will examine a potential project involving the transportation of green methanol from production sites in Bell Bay, Tasmania (ABEL Energy) and Portland, Victoria (HAMR Energy) to the Port of Melbourne for storage and bunkering services.
The MoU provides a starting point for the parties to work together to explore the various elements of establishing a green methanol bunkering hub, and to identify any challenges that would need to be addressed.
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Port of Melbourne CEO, Saul Cannon, said: “Decarbonisation of the maritime industry is really gaining pace.
“As Australia’s largest container port with around 3,000 ships visiting annually, it makes sense that we look at ways to work together with customers, service providers and producers to understand the needs of the market,” Cannon added.
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Maersk Head of Oceania Market, My Therese Blank, added: “Maersk has already ordered container vessels that will be operated on green methanol, which is a proven solution for reducing the shipping industry’s carbon emissions and mitigating its impact on the environment.
“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.”
Earlier this year, Maersk announced an investment in Berlin-based C1 Green Chemicals AG, a firm specialising in producing green methanol to allow for ultra-efficient catalysis and improved technological cooperation.
The two parties will collaborate to explore green methanol fuel vessel-to-vessel bunkering operations after Maersk’s green methanol container vessels arrive in 2024.
