The world’s first methanol-powered car carrier vessel has set out on its maiden voyage from Hong Kong, as the city moves towards becoming a green maritime fuel bunkering centre.
Commissioned by the China Merchants Group and built in the southeastern province of Jiangsu, the CM Hong Kong set sail from Tsing Yi on Sunday morning flying the city’s flag.
At the launch ceremony, No 2 official Eric Chan Kwok-ki said authorities were actively supporting the shipping industry’s green transition and promoting the use of more environmentally friendly fuels.
Between February and mid-September, Hong Kong supplied more than 130,000 tonnes of green marine fuels to ocean-going vessels.
“The government will propose a legal change to provide tax concessions for methanol used as fuel by outbound vessels,” Chan said. “We have also invited expressions of interest for developing green maritime fuel storage facilities on a site in Tsing Yi South.”
“In the future, Hong Kong will increase the quality of our green marine fuel bunkering services, strengthen cooperation with ports worldwide and facilitate the trading of green marine fuels in the city by providing a platform for cooperation.”
