Xiamen bunkers OOCL WISDOM with 1,005 tonnes of green methanol

Marcus Bennett

Xiamen Port in China supplied 1,005 tonnes of green methanol to the 24,168-TEU OOCL WISDOM at Xiamen Yuanhai Container Terminal on November 4, the first ship-to-ship bunkering of that fuel in China’s Fujian province.

The 24,168-TEU vessel, described by the source as one of the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel container ships, is the first of seven methanol dual-fuel vessels being introduced into OOCL’s fleet. It operates on the carrier’s Asia–North Europe Loop 1 (LL1) service.

The 1,005-tonne delivery gives Xiamen an alternative-fuel option alongside its existing LNG and biofuels capabilities. For carriers operating methanol-capable ships, that expands where they can obtain fuel; for forwarders, it adds a port where they can arrange ship-to-ship fuel services.

For shippers, however, the source discloses neither a bunker price nor a freight surcharge, and it does not tie the 1,005 tonnes to an FEU volume. No immediate $/FEU effect can therefore be calculated from the operation.

What does the operation establish for Xiamen?

The November 4 transfer establishes Xiamen’s ability to provide green methanol through ship-to-ship transfers. It does not establish routine availability: local port authorities continue to develop operational standards and safety procedures to support a transition from initial green methanol operations to regular commercial services.

The milestone therefore belongs to the port, not the vessel, which had already completed green methanol bunkering at Qingdao Port. Xiamen’s alternative-fuel offer now comprises LNG, biofuels and green methanol, strengthening its ability to serve container vessels equipped with alternative-fuel propulsion as shipping companies expand their dual-fuel fleets.

For carriers and forwarders, that distinction is practical. A carrier needs recurring fuel availability rather than a single transfer, while a forwarder needs a price, schedule and allocation before offering a service to a shipper. The source provides none of those terms, supporting a capability claim for Xiamen but not a claim of steady supply or cheaper freight.

What do the emissions claims show?

According to COSCO SHIPPING, the operation is estimated to deliver a reduction of more than 1,600 tonnes of carbon emissions compared with the use of conventional marine fuels. Separately, local port authorities say green methanol can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 85%, depending on its production pathway and associated emissions.

The operation-specific estimate and the conditional lifecycle benchmark answer different questions. The source provides neither the production pathway for the 1,005-tonne parcel nor the emissions calculation method, so neither figure should be treated as a guaranteed reduction for every future delivery.

How does OOCL WISDOM fit the fleet rollout?

The vessel completed its first green methanol bunkering at Qingdao Port in July 2026, before commencing its maiden commercial voyage to Europe. Its Xiamen delivery followed on November 4, giving OOCL at least two reported Chinese green methanol supply points around the start of the ship’s European deployment.

That does not establish how much green methanol each of the seven vessels will receive, whether Xiamen will fuel all of them or how often ships can obtain the fuel. For carriers, the seven-ship program can diversify fuel procurement; for forwarders, more methanol-capable vessels can widen routing options. Shippers, however, cannot infer that every voyage on the LL1 service will use green methanol from two bunkering events alone.

Can Xiamen turn this into regular service?

COSCO SHIPPING said it would “continue developing green marine fuel bunkering services through its activities in port operations, shipping and fuel supply.” Combining those activities could help the company align fuel availability with vessel deployment, but the statement gives no price, contract volume or delivery schedule.

Local port authorities are working to “improve operational standards and safety procedures” as they move from initial green methanol bunkering operations to regular commercial services. Until those standards and commercial terms become clear, the milestone supports Xiamen’s capability rather than a guaranteed lower-emission or lower-cost service for every cargo moving through the port.

The next test is whether Xiamen can convert the November 4 transfer into regular, scheduled service as OOCL introduces six more methanol dual-fuel ships and shipping companies expand alternative-fuel fleets.