An international ship receives bonded marine fuel bunkering in Zhoushan. [Photo/Tide News]

Zhoushan area of China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone granted its first license for methanol fueling of international ships on Dec 24, marking a significant step forward in the region's green marine fuel transition.

The license was granted to Zhejiang Free Trade Zone PetroChina Fuel Oil Co Ltd for a three-year period.

In recent years, Zhoushan has been improving its bonded marine fuel services while expanding the green fuel market. In July 2025, it introduced the "Operational Management Guidelines for the Pilot Program on Waterborne Refueling of Clean Fuels for International Ships" for the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone. This policy expands refueling options to include liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, and liquid ammonia, supporting the region's green energy transition in the maritime industry.

Zhejiang Free Trade Zone PetroChina Fuel Oil was established in Zhoushan in 2019 and has since become a leading player in the bonded fuel oil refueling sector. Last year, the company supplied approximately 2.4 million metric tons of bonded marine fuel in Zhoushan — a 10 percent growth year-on-year.

The company is also negotiating with shipping and shipbuilding companies to secure its first methanol refueling transaction.