In November 2025, Xiamen Port completed its first ship-to-ship bunkering operation of bonded LNG for internationally voyaging vessels. [Photo provided to ftz.xm.gov.cn]
The Xiamen Port Guidelines for Safe Methanol Bunkering — Fujian's first safety code for vessel methanol refueling — have been officially released.
The guidelines address a previously unmet need in the province's safety framework for maritime methanol bunkering and represent a critical milestone in Xiamen's push to establish a full-spectrum clean energy bunkering safety system.
They provide a systematic framework for methanol bunkering operations via bunker vessels in Xiamen waters, covering the full chain of safety measures before, during, and after refueling.
They also set out specific requirements for bunkering operator qualifications, equipment on bunker vessels, hose inspection intervals, and crew certification and protective gear.
In addition, the guidelines mandate pre-operation risk assessments and the development of emergency response plans, along with clear protocols for uninterrupted monitoring during operations, weather-related operational limits, and post-operation pipeline purging and inerting.
In recent years, Xiamen Port has achieved breakthroughs in biofuel and LNG "ship-to-ship" bunkering. The release of the guidelines now makes Xiamen the first city in Fujian province with a safety framework for methanol bunkering operations and oversight — providing a solid foundation for the city's first methanol bunkering operation.