On June 21, Haigang Zhiyuan, a methanol bunkering vessel operated by SIPG Energy, supplied 3,000 tonnes of China-produced green methanol to HMM LEAF at anchorage.

The operation marks another step in Shanghai Port’s effort to expand its green marine fuel supply capability beyond conventional berth-side bunkering. According to the information released, it was the first anchorage-based green methanol bunkering operation completed at Shanghai Port, and also the largest single anchorage green methanol bunkering operation recorded in China to date.

With this latest operation, Shanghai Port’s green methanol bunkering coverage has been extended from Yangshan Port, Waigaoqiao port area and Changxing Island shipbuilding and repair facilities to anchorage waters. This gives international shipping lines more flexibility in arranging green fuel supply, particularly for vessels that may require customised bunkering windows or operating arrangements.

The receiving vessel, HMM LEAF, is a 9,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel containership. The vessel measures 282 metres in length and 46 metres in beam, and is part of HMM’s series of nine 9,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships. It is also the first of two sister vessels built by HJ Shipbuilding & Construction.

The methanol supplied in the operation was China-produced biomass-based green methanol. According to the announcement, the fuel offers significant lifecycle emission reduction benefits, with a reported carbon reduction rate of up to 149%.

Anchorage bunkering is generally more complex than bunkering alongside a terminal berth. The operation takes place in open waters and involves more dynamic vessel conditions, requiring stricter control over navigation safety, weather windows, ship-to-ship compatibility and emergency response arrangements.

Before the operation, compatibility assessment was completed. SIPG Energy also worked with the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration to carry out risk assessment and verification for the navigational safety plan. During the bunkering process, the on-site team followed methanol ship-to-ship bunkering procedures and implemented safety control measures throughout the operation. The bunkering was completed safely and smoothly.

For Shanghai Port, the significance of the operation lies not only in the volume record, but also in the addition of another practical green methanol bunkering scenario. As more methanol dual-fuel vessels enter service, ports with the ability to provide green methanol both at berths and at anchorage are likely to become more competitive in the emerging low-carbon fuel supply chain.

The operation also comes at a time when the global shipping decarbonisation debate has become less heated than in previous years. Uncertainty over future fuel pathways, regulatory timing and fuel availability has made many shipowners more cautious in their investment decisions. However, China’s green shipping infrastructure build-out has continued to move forward.

Shanghai Port’s latest anchorage bunkering operation shows that China is still turning green shipping policies and pilot projects into practical operating capability. From terminal berths to anchorage waters, the expansion of green methanol bunkering services suggests that China’s alternative fuel infrastructure is moving from first-mover trials toward broader commercial application, providing a more concrete foundation for the shipping industry’s low-carbon transition.