Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), a provider of global ship management services, has introduced a methanol bunkering simulator at its Maritime Training Centre in Kochi, India, in collaboration with Wärtsilä. The simulator is designed to train seafarers in the handling of methanol as a marine fuel, with an ammonia bunkering simulation module scheduled for launch in early 2026.
The Kochi facility is the first of three such simulators BSM plans to deploy. Additional units are expected to be installed at its training centres in Poland and the Philippines by the end of 2025. This initiative aligns with BSM’s preparations for managing methanol-fuelled vessels and anticipated industry-wide growth in alternative marine fuels.
According to the company, approximately 60 methanol-fuelled vessels are currently in operation worldwide, and based on existing orders, that number could exceed 350 by 2030.
“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,” said Capt. Gurpreet Singh, Group General Manager, Training and Development at BSM.
The simulator is based on Wärtsilä’s TechSim 9 platform and marketed as the TechSim 5000. It is certified by ClassNK for both basic and advanced IGF Code training. Features include dual bunkering stations, real-time monitoring of storage tanks, integrated automation systems, 3D visualisation, emergency shutdown systems, and e-Tutor modules for bunkering procedures, troubleshooting, and emergency scenarios.
The planned ammonia module will complement BSM’s existing LNG and methanol training coverage, expanding simulation-based instruction across the primary low-carbon marine fuels.
BSM is also investing in upskilling its instructors through programmes such as the International Maritime Organization and World Maritime University’s Train-the-Trainer programme on Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Shipping. The company has also developed dedicated training courses for methanol and ammonia handling, including firefighting and simulation-based bunkering operations.
Headquartered in Singapore, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement provides global ship management services, including crew training, vessel operations, and maritime technology solutions.
