The ports of Bremen are now ‘methanol-ready’

Climate protection - this topic has long been of crucial importance in the shipping industry as well: more and more new ships are leaving the shipyards with alternative propulsion systems or are being retrofitted accordingly. And this development is also noticeable in the ports of Bremen: It is still primarily container ships or car carriers with LNG (liquefied natural gas) propulsion that dock in Bremen's ports alongside conventional ocean liners powered by heavy fuel oil or marine diesel. At the same time, however, the number of ships using methanol engines for propulsion is also increasing. Experts believe that in the medium term, methanol fuel is likely to gain a significant share and replace LNG as the number one alternative fuel.

‘Now that the bunkering of LNG has been possible since 2015, Bremen's ports are now also methanol-ready,’ says Kristina Vogt, Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, adding: ’With the regulations now clear, we are well positioned and Bremen also has the best structural prerequisites: There is already methanol-capable storage capacity on the Weser, bunker suppliers in Bremerhaven are looking into expanding, and several companies are involved in the production of green methanol. A lot is happening in this area - and Bremen is at the forefront.’

However, in order to enable the use of more climate-friendly types of propulsion, it is not only the shipowners who are called upon, but in particular the ports, which ultimately have to make reliable, safe bunkering of these fuels possible.

This is precisely what has now been achieved with a clearly regulated procedure for authorising bunkering operations in the ports of Bremen: ‘When bunkering fuels with a flash point below 55 degrees Celsius - including methanol and LNG, for example - a number of safety aspects must be taken into account. With the clear instructions that we have now issued, shipowners and all other parties involved now know exactly how and when to do what in order to enable the smooth bunkering of alternative fuels,’ emphasises port captain Stephan Berger.

Meanwhile, Robert Howe, Managing Director of bremenports, makes it clear that ‘methanol-ready’ is more than just a label, but rather a real competitive factor and, above all, fits perfectly into the green focus strategy of the ports of Bremen: ‘We are supporting and promoting the use of new low-carbon fuels in shipping - this is ultimately active climate protection. The aim must be to enable universal bunkering in our universal ports - regardless of whether methanol, LNG, ammonia or, in future, green hydrogen is pumped into the ship's tanks. The fact that we already have clear process plans and regulations for LNG and methanol is a very good step in the right direction.’