Methanol is an emerging marine fuel gaining attention as a pathway to deeper decarbonisation than LNG can offer. Liquid at ambient conditions (unlike LNG), it uses simpler onboard storage and bunkering infrastructure. Green methanol (from renewable electricity and captured CO₂) is effectively carbon-neutral; blue methanol (from natural gas with CCS) reduces emissions versus fossil fuel.
Purpose-built methanol dual-fuel vessels — notably Maersk's growing container fleet and a number of tankers and bulkers
The Maersk orderbook for methanol dual-fuel container vessels has been a major driver of methanol infrastructure investment. Rotterdam offered commercial green methanol bunkering in 2023-2024; Singapore, Shanghai, and other hubs are following.
'Grey' methanol is produced from natural gas — abundant and cheap but carbon-intensive. 'Green' methanol uses renewable power for electrolysis (hydrogen) and captured CO₂ — genuinely low-carbon but expensive and supply-constrained. 'Blue' methanol uses natural gas with carbon capture. Pricing and availability differ dramatically between these categories.
Methanol is liquid at ambient temperature, simplifying storage versus LNG. It is toxic, miscible with water, and flammable with a wide flammability range. Onboard safety systems and crew training are required under IMO interim guidelines.
Green methanol is significantly more expensive than VLSFO and global supply is limited. Most operational green methanol supply is currently committed to specific industrial offtake agreements rather than open-market sale.
Ports in our directory where Methanol is available as a standard commercial grade:
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