BV supports COSCO Shipping in China’s first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering
COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Shanghai) has completed China’s first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operation at a shipyard’s berth. The ‘COSCO Shipping Libra’ safely bunkered 2,100 tons of methanol fuel within 10 hours. Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS), a technical advisory arm of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), provided expert risk assessment and technical support, ensuring the safe and efficient execution of the project.
The successful bunkering provides a replicable model for future methanol dual-fuel conversions and supply projects while showcasing CHI Shanghai’s ability to deliver end-to-end solutions across repair, conversion, and bunkering. This capability further accelerates the shift from conventional fuels to greener alternatives.
In preparation for the operation, CHI Shanghai worked closely with multiple stakeholders. Technical reviews were held to verify the feasibility, safety, and compliance for bunkering 20,000 TEU dual-fuel container ships. The shipyard also organized methanol-specific training programs, table-top emergency exercises, and safety management initiatives to ensure robust risk controls were applied across the process and surrounding environment.
Throughout the project, BVS provided support by conducting comprehensive HAZID (Hazard Identification) and HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) risk assessments across five key stages: truck-to-ship inerting, bunkering vessel berthing, ship-to-ship transfer, post-bunkering purging, and vessel departure. These measures established a strong and reliable safety framework for the operation.
Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities at Bureau Veritas, said: “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. This operation sets a new benchmark for China’s alternative fuel adoption, and Bureau Veritas is committed to supporting the industry as it accelerates its transition to cleaner energy.”