VOC Port Authority issues tender to develop bunkering and refuelling facility

With the global maritime sector focusing on sustainability and looking at alternative fuel to heavy fuel oil, major Indian ports are gearing up to create facilities to handle and store methanol.

The VO Chidambaranar Port Authority in Thoothukudi has kick-started the process of developing a bunkering (supplying fuel) and refuelling facility for green methanol facility on a pilot basis.

The Authority has floated a tender seeking interest from private players to develop bunkering and refuelling facility for green methanol facility on a pilot basis. This includes a five-year operation and maintenance contract through engineering, procurement and contract mode.

In February, Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson, VOC Port Authority, with Team RINA (technology solution provider for green hydrogen projects) and officers of the port, presented the detailed project report to the Project Appraisal Committee for the pilot green hydrogen facility at VOC Port. The Mission Director for green hydrogen approved the installation of the green methanol pilot bunkering and refuelling facility at VOC Port, said sources. The estimated cost of the pilot project is ₹35.34 crore, the tender document says.

The Union Shipping Ministry has identified Paradip Port, Deendayal Port and VOC Port to be developed as hydrogen hubs – capable of handling, storing and generation of green hydrogen and its derivatives like ammonia and methanol as propulsion fuel for ships.

The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla was one of the first major ports to kick-start the handling and storing of methanol as a bunker, said Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA). The port has storage tanks, pipelines and jetty compatible with methanol handling requirements.

DPA has issued bio-methanol bunkering manual and standard operating procedures and established procedures to be adopted while handling green methanol as a bunker. DPA has also entered into an agreement with barge owner to provide methanol compatible barge for ship-to-ship bunkering. Modification of an existing barge to make it compliant for carrying Methanol is under process.

Singh noted that DPA has engaged DNV Maritime Advisory services to analyse and assess Kandla port’s on its readiness level for methanol bunkering. DNV is likely to come up with the ranking by July 2025, he said. DPA has also joined Methanol Institute with the objective of engaging with bio-methanol and e-methanol producers and suppliers.

The idea is to be in readiness to supply blended methanol to vessels that would be plying on Singapore – Rotterdam Green Shipping Corridor. The latest example of ships looking at alternative fuel was Danish shipping major Maersk naming its 11th dual-fuel methanol vessel ‘Albert Maersk’ in Mumbai in February.