The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reports that the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council (NMSSC) has visited the methanol bunker tanker M.T. Golden Centaurus, with the council reviewing the safety features of the newly commissioned vessel.

Containment features

Golden Centaurus is an IMO Type II chemical tanker with a specialised double-hull construction, strict tank segregation, specialised tank coatings and stainless steel cargo valves for methanol service.

MPA explained in a LinkedIn post that these features are intended to minimise the risk of cargo contamination and liquid or vapour leaks, and they are also meant to protect the crew from toxic exposure and reduce the risk of fire.

Detection systems

The vessel is equipped with gas detectors for instant vapour detection, MPA said. It also carries thermal imaging cameras to spot methanol flames, which can be difficult to see in daylight.

Operational controls

MPA said all transfer systems have emergency shutdown protocols and dry-disconnect couplings, and the crew are trained in methanol handling and emergency response. The authority added that every operation is carried out in compliance with Singapore’s TR 129 standard for methanol bunkering.

MPA described methanol as a pillar of Singapore’s alternative fuel roadmap, noting that the fuel’s low flashpoint, toxicity and invisible flame profile call for “next-generation safeguards”.

According to the port authority, NMSSC members said they were encouraged to see how structural and operational safety had been integrated into the vessel.

"This visit by the NMSSC reinforces that the green transition and maritime safety must go hand in hand, because when lives are at stake, there is no room for compromise," MPA concluded.