Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Methanol and Ammonia Bunkering: Infrastructure and Real Cases

48 ports offer methanol bunkering versus over 200 for LNG: the real constraint on the transition to alternative fuels today is less the ship than the port infrastructure available to supply it.

bunkering methanol ammonia TR129 port infrastructure

## Operational Explanation

While onboard operational readiness for alternative fuels (specific risks, crew training, emergency procedures) is a distinct topic already covered elsewhere, the actual availability of bunkering infrastructure is today the most binding practical constraint on the commercial-scale spread of methanol and ammonia. At the end of 2025, only 48 ports had active methanol bunkering capability, compared with over 200 for LNG, and most still require case-by-case authorization from the port authority rather than a standardized procedure.

2025-2026 saw the first concrete real-world application cases: the Port of Singapore completed in November 2025 the first methanol bunkering trial under the new TR129 technical standard on a Maersk ship, subsequently issuing three methanol bunkering licenses effective from 1 January 2026; the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Port of Rotterdam conducted the first methanol bunkering operations on transoceanic ships (Ane Maersk); Rotterdam also conducted the first pilot trials to verify the port's capability to handle ammonia bunkering, with the first ammonia-fueled ships expected in commercial service no earlier than 2026-2027.

## Regulatory Reference

There is not yet a single IMO standard for methanol and ammonia bunkering; the most advanced technical reference is Singapore's TR129 standard for methanol bunkering, while other ports are developing their own case-by-case authorization procedures in the absence of a harmonized international framework.

## Scope of Application

Every Company planning to operate methanol- or ammonia-fueled ships, needing to verify the actual availability of compatible bunkering infrastructure along planned commercial routes.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Verify the actual availability of ports with bunkering capability for the specific alternative fuel along planned commercial routes, not just the ship's theoretical compatibility.
2. Consider that most ports still require case-by-case authorization for methanol/ammonia bunkering, with longer coordination times than conventional bunkering.
3. Monitor the expansion of the network of authorized ports, since the number of ports with methanol/ammonia bunkering capability is growing but still limited compared to LNG.
4. Verify which technical reference standard (e.g. TR129 at Singapore) applies to the planned bunkering port, since there is not yet a harmonized international framework.
5. Plan alternative routes or additional stops when the bunkering infrastructure for the chosen fuel is not available along the originally planned commercial route.

## Practical Example

Example: a Company planning to operate a methanol-fueled ship on the Asia-Europe route verifies that the ports of Singapore, Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam already offer methanol bunkering capability, while other intermediate ports of call along the route do not yet offer it, requiring an adjustment to the bunkering plan compared to a conventional ship.

## Real Cases

The Ane Maersk, among the first transoceanic container ships fueled by methanol, completed the first methanol bunkering operations in European waters between the ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam, while at Singapore a Maersk ship completed in November 2025 the first bunkering trial under the new TR129 technical standard, a step that led to the issuance of methanol bunkering licenses effective from January 2026: concrete examples of how infrastructure is following, with some delay, the adoption of the propulsion technology.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Planning to operate a methanol/ammonia-fueled ship based on theoretical technical compatibility, without verifying actual bunkering availability along commercial routes | Practical impossibility of supplying the ship per the original voyage plan | Always verify the actual availability of ports authorized for bunkering the specific fuel along planned routes
Bunkering coordination times underestimated, treating them as equivalent to conventional bunkering | Operational delays due to the case-by-case authorization required by most ports | Plan wider time margins for coordinating alternative fuel bunkering
Technical reference standard of the bunkering port not verified before the operation | Procedural incompatibility discovered only at the time of bunkering | Always verify which specific technical standard (e.g. TR129) applies to the planned bunkering port

## PSC Observations

Alternative fuel bunkering is not subject to direct PSC verification at this stage, but documentation of bunkering operations and fuel-specific crew training may be checked as part of general inspections of ships using them.

## Operational Tips

- Never assume bunkering availability along a commercial route just because the ship is technically compatible with the alternative fuel.
- Always plan wider time margins for coordinating methanol/ammonia bunkering compared to conventional bunkering.
- Actively monitor the expansion of the network of authorized ports: the situation changes rapidly year to year.

## Checklist

- Actual availability of specific fuel bunkering verified along planned commercial routes
- Coordination times for case-by-case authorization planned with adequate margin
- Technical reference standard of the bunkering port verified before the operation
- Alternative routes or additional stops planned when infrastructure is unavailable
- Expansion of the network of authorized ports monitored over time

## FAQ

How many ports currently offer methanol bunkering compared to LNG?
At the end of 2025 around 48 ports had active methanol bunkering capability, compared with over 200 for LNG: a significant gap reflecting LNG's greater infrastructural maturity.
What is the TR129 standard?
The technical reference developed by Singapore for methanol bunkering, whose first practical use was validated in November 2025 on a Maersk ship, leading to the issuance of methanol bunkering licenses effective from January 2026.
When are the first ammonia-fueled ships expected in commercial service?
No earlier than 2026-2027, according to estimates following the first pilot trials conducted at the Port of Rotterdam to test the port's capability to handle ammonia bunkering.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Alternative Fuels and Operational Readiness Just Transition and the Social Impact of Decarbonization

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