China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port supplied LNG, green methanol and B24 biofuel to three vessels in simultaneous bunkering operations on September 30, Ship & Bunker reported. The activity took place across the Chuanshan, Meishan and Daxie port areas and was described as the first operation of its kind in China.
Citing a release issued on Thursday by the Ningbo Municipality Authority, the outlet put the quantities delivered at approximately 7,400 m3 of LNG, 7,500 mt of green methanol and 3,000 mt of B24 biofuel. The three different fuels were supplied on the same day, bringing together the port’s LNG, methanol and biofuel bunkering capabilities in one coordinated set of operations.
The green methanol delivery was handled by the bunker vessel Zhongran Green Energy 85. According to the report, that transfer established a Zhejiang provincial record for the largest volume supplied in a single methanol bunkering operation. The methanol delivery therefore marked a separate milestone alongside the simultaneous provision of the three fuel types.
The latest operations follow an expansion of alternative marine fuel supply at Ningbo-Zhoushan in recent years. By September 25, the port had carried out 100 bonded LNG bunkering operations serving international vessels. Cumulative LNG deliveries through those operations had passed 500,000 m3 since June 2023, according to the figures reported by Ship & Bunker.
Biofuel supply has also developed at the port, which had completed 62 biofuel bunkering operations with an aggregate volume exceeding 150,000 mt. Local maritime authorities said this placed Ningbo-Zhoushan first among Chinese ports by biofuel bunkering volume, the outlet reported.
For the simultaneous deliveries, authorities worked with bunker suppliers, terminal operators and shipping agents on operational preparations and oversight. Their coordination covered risk assessments, equipment checks and monitoring of vessel movements during the bunkering activity across the three port areas.