Breakbulk News reports that Singapore has entered a new phase of clean-fuel bunkering with its first full-scale TR129 methanol trial. The operation marks a major step for the port and raises a clear industry question: are operators ready for the rapid shift that lies ahead?
A Night Trial That Pushes Fuel Standards Forward
The report explains that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore completed the trial on 28 November 2025. The team transferred 3,012 metric tonnes of methanol from a bunker tanker to a container vessel. This transfer was not routine. It was the first major test of the TR129 standard.
The operation also took place at night. This choice mattered because it tested the procedures under tougher conditions. As the article notes, the trial showed that methanol can move safely through Singapore’s bunkering network even when visibility and weather are harder to predict.
TR129 Brings a Stricter and Clearer Framework
According to the report, TR129 is not a small regulatory update. It sets detailed rules for how methanol must be handled, measured, and transferred. Before bunkering began, the Mass Flow Metering system went through a full acceptance test. This ensured accuracy and confirmed that the equipment aligned with the new standard.
Singapore’s role as a major bunker hub adds weight to this trial. When Singapore adopts a standard, the global market often follows. Because of this, any misstep would slow the wider adoption of methanol. To avoid that risk, the port added extra layers of safety, including real-time weather checks and lightning detection.
A Tight Countdown to 2026 Licensing
The article highlights that Singapore has already issued three methanol bunkering licences that begin on 1 January 2026. This timing gives the industry a clear signal. Operators now have limited time to adjust to growing methanol demand.
However, readiness remains a challenge. Methanol requires new training, new safety practices, and in many cases, new hardware. The trial proves that the framework works. The real test starts when commercial volumes increase and more vessels begin to request methanol bunkers.
What This Means for Global Shipping
The report points out that methanol is gaining traction because it integrates more easily into existing supply chains than other alternative fuels. However, this does not make the transition simple. As the industry moves forward, ports will need stronger standards, stricter verification steps, and better operational routines.
Singapore’s trial gives the sector an early look at what may soon become standard practice. If ports can repeat what Singapore achieved, methanol’s growth will accelerate. If they cannot, the pace of adoption may slow.
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Source: Breakbulk News
