Methanol as a marine fuel got a leg up as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) asks for a standard to be developed for methanol bunkers.

The IMO has asked that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to develop guidelines to assure owners and operators that a uniform type of methanol will be available at ports.

Gregory Dolan, president of advocacy group Methanol Institute, says developing a standard is "an important step for methanol to find wider adoption as a marine fuel."