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Argus Media: U.S. refiners turn to marine fuel cast-offs with IMO 2020

Refiners running more intermediate feedstocks as IMO 2020 fuel specs leave ready supply of alternatives to tight sour crude supplies.

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Elliott Blackburn of global energy and price reporting agency Argus Media on Tuesday (18 February) issued a report of US independent refiners running more intermediate feedstocks as new marine fuel specifications leave a ready supply of alternatives to tight sour crude supplies: 

Preparations ahead of the introduction of the new International Maritime Organization’s marine fuel sulphur emissions rules that went into effect on 1 January left a surplus of sour, lightly processed residues no longer suitable for blending in the marine fuel pool. The price of these products fell by enough in the second half of last year to encourage refiners on the US west and Gulf coasts to run more of them. US imports of former marine fuel components from Russia more than doubled last year compared with 2018 (see graph).

Russia’s M-100 grade of high-sulphur straight-run fuel oil was valued at $16/bl below Ice Brent futures in the fourth quarter, after freight to the US was factored in. This left it looking much better value compared with heavy sour crudes in the US Gulf coast. Mexican Maya and Canadian WCS traded at discounts of around $10/bl in the same period, although M-100 has risen to premiums to heavy sour crudes this year (see graph).

Marathon Petroleum processed around 25,000 b/d of residual fuel oil in the fourth quarter, mostly at its 166,000 b/d Martinez refinery in California. And the firm will complete upgrades to two coking units at its 556,000 b/d Garyville refinery in Louisiana this month, enabling it to process another 20,000 b/d of residue feedstocks in the Gulf coast.

PBF Energy processed 50,000 b/d of high-sulphur fuel oil in the fourth quarter, mostly in the Atlantic coast region. The refiner has capacity for 125,000 b/d across its Atlantic, Gulf and west coast system. PBF’s sweet crude processing more than tripled in the Atlantic coast in the fourth quarter, to its highest since 2013, as competitive prices for light sweet Bakken crude and sour fuel oil feedstocks left room for lighter material in the crude slate.

“We need to keep the top of the tower wet, and that means we run a light crude to balance it,” PBF chief executive Tom Nimbley said.

Valero increased runs of “other” feedstocks in the fourth quarter by 15,000 b/d compared with the third quarter and by 33,000 b/d compared with the fourth quarter of 2018. The refiner is targeting a wider array of non-crude sour feedstocks than it would have considered before the specification change.

“We have worked really hard to characterise some of these that are new to the market, and are trying to run more of them,” Valero chief operating officer Lane Riggs said.

Sweet sirens

Valero’s use of resid and former fuel oil components instead of medium sour crudes helped its refining system process a record 1.7mn b/d of sweet crude in the fourth quarter. The distressed marine blendstocks freed up crude units to take more light sweet grades, the company said. Sweet crudes represented 64pc of the firm’s throughput across a system dotted with complex coking and sulphur-treating equipment built for heavier slates.

Cokers may feast on Russian sour intermediate oils, but US catalytic crackers are starving for sweeter feedstocks amid strong demand from the competing marine fuel pool. Valero, Marathon Petroleum and PBF have cut catalytic cracker run rates as marine fuel blenders make firm bids for low-sulphur vacuum gasoil (VGO). Ultra-low sulphur VGO has commanded premiums of up to $10/bl compared with material sold to catalytic crackers. This should help limit additional production of gasoline sent to storage ahead of the summer driving demand season, refiners say.

“We have actually had economic incentives to almost run the refinery backward,” PBF’s Nimbley said.


Published: 19 February, 2020

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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