July 31, 2025
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) has launched its first methanol bunkering simulator at its Maritime Training Centre in Kochi, India, in partnership with Wärtsilä.
According to the statement, the training platform equips seafarers with knowledge and hands-on skills to safely handle methanol as fuel, with an ammonia bunkering simulation module to follow in early 2026.
The new simulator in Kochi marks the initial phase of BSM’s plans to enhance alternative fuel training. By the end of 2025, two additional methanol bunkering simulators will be commissioned at BSM’s Maritime Training Centres in Poland and the Philippines.
Simulator capabilities
- Dual bunkering stations with liquid and vapor return lines
- Real-time monitoring of multiple storage and service tanks
- Low-pressure pump skids, nitrogen systems, and fuel valve trains
- Integrated Automation System (IAS) with interactive controls
- 3D visualisation of bunkering stations and prep rooms
- Emergency shutdown (ESD) systems and alarm management
- A suite of e-Tutor scenarios covering bunkering, troubleshooting, and emergency response
The maritime decarbonisation depends not just on new technologies, but also on the people who operate them. Their capabilities are the foundation for safe and efficient vessel operations and a successful energy transition
…said Sebastian von Hardenberg, CEO, BSM.
Furthermore, in Q1 2026, BSM plans to upgrade its Kochi simulator with a dedicated ammonia training module, expanding its simulation capabilities to cover LNG, methanol and ammonia.
We must be prepared for a multi-fuel future. The new Wärtsilä simulator will allow our seafarers to train in a realistic, risk-free environment, preparing them for the complexities of methanol, and soon ammonia, bunkering operations with precision. It’s not just technology investment—it’s a commitment to competence and safety.
…said Capt. Gurpreet Singh, Group General Manager, Training and Development, BSM.
Johan Ekvall, Director Simulation and Training at Wärtsilä, also highlighted that the simulator provides a realistic and technically accurate environment to prepare crews for methanol operations.
