While methanol has been traded as a chemical for more than a century, and transported safely by ship for decades, its use as a marine fuel presents a very different challenge. The technical and safety aspects are well understood, but the real barrier today lies in the commercial side of procurement, particularly for green and blue methanol.

With growing pressure to cut emissions and the rapid uptake of methanol-ready and methanol-capable tonnage, operators now face practical and complex questions, says Stream Marine Technical, the alternative fuels arm of Stream Marine Group – a leading provider of safety and technical training to the maritime and offshore sectors.

Where can methanol be sourced? How can contracts be structured reliably? How should bunkering, safety, and crew training be integrated?

As Dr Sam Sarkar, Senior Advisor-Commercial at Stream Marine Technical and panellist, explains:

“In the past, the bunker industry has relied on the refining sector to supply conventional fuels. With net zero/low carbon methanol, shipowners must instead engage with a completely different set of producers, using very different production methods, cost structures, and supply dynamics. This has created a cultural and cross -sectoral communications gap between producers and the maritime sector, that must be bridged if methanol is to be adopted at scale.”

Dr Sarkar highlighted further complexities, adding: “Unlike traditional fuels, green alternatives are not commodities you can simply switch on for fuel supply solutions. For smaller shipowners, coordinating with multiple diverse raw material-based producers is virtually impossible. Combined with varied cost structures impacting pricing, the procurement landscape is becoming increasingly complex.”

To help address these challenges, Stream Marine Technical will host a live webinar: “Methanol Procurement for the Maritime Industry: From Strategy to Supply,” taking place on Wednesday, 1 October at 16:00 GMT.

Panellists include:

• Juergen Puetter, CEO, Renewable Hydrogen Canada Corporation
• Didier De Beaumont, Commercial Manager, Energy Cluster, Port of Amsterdam
• Dr Sam Sarkar, Senior Advisor-Commercial at Stream Marine Technical.
• Moderator: Sean Moloney, CEO, Elaborate Communications

Martin White, CEO of Stream Marine Group said: “Maritime decarbonisation isn’t just about technology, it’s about people, processes, and partnerships. Understanding the commercial realities of methanol procurement is crucial for shipowners and operators to make safe, reliable, and cost-effective fuel choices. This webinar will focus on equipping industry leaders with the insights and tools they need to navigate this new landscape.”