China launches green methanol bunkering at Dalian Port

China's green shipping ambitions took a significant step forward as the country's first bonded green methanol bunkering operation in the northeast was completed at Dalian Port in Liaoning province recently.

The operation fueled the COSCO Shipping Yangpu, China's first methanol dual-fuel container vessel, with 500 metric tons of domestically produced, internationally certified green methanol. The move fills a key gap in Dalian's international maritime bunkering services and signals the establishment of a green shipping fuel supply chain across Northeast Asia.

The green methanol was sourced entirely from China's largest production bases in Heilongjiang province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Produced through proprietary gasification synthesis technology using renewable feedstocks such as agricultural residues and recycled tires, the fuel holds international ISCC certification for sustainability and carbon neutrality. Compared with conventional fossil fuels, the 500-ton fuel load is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 800 tons during the vessel's operation.

The Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration oversaw the ship-to-ship bunkering operation, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental protocols. Its "three-full" service model provided comprehensive supervision covering personnel, vessel conditions, cargo handling and environmental safeguards, supported by sea, air and land enforcement.