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Singapore bunker survey and marine refuelling ops adapt to effects of Coronavirus

Three bunker buyers and the Association of Bunker Industry (Singapore) provide an overview of how COVID-19 has changed the Singapore maritime industry.
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Singapore bunker tankers

Bunkering operations at the Port of Singapore have been increasingly challenged by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) since late January, said several fuel buyers and a spokesperson of the Association of Bunker Industry (Singapore), also known as ABIS.

They noted that the Singapore shipping industry is adapting well to the changes and coming up with alternative ways to get the job done in most cases – as business goes on.

“The bunker survey and marine refuelling sector traditionally experience a slight fall in activity after the Chinese New Year, but this time the industry has taken a harder hit due to the combined effects of the Coronavirus,” Chris Lim of ABIS told Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times.

Lim, who is also the Director of Singapore-based bunker surveying firm HD Marine Services Pte Ltd, said the company has seen a decrease in business operations as a result of lower activity levels from shipping firms.

“Some shipowners have refrained Singapore bunker surveyors and cargo officers from boarding their vessels due to fear of crew being infected by COVID-19; even if allowed on board, we could be confined to a room and can only access to the deck and not allowed to walk freely or unaccompanied,” he explains.

“If surveyor is onboard the receiving vessel first, the barge might not allow ship representative and surveyor to board their barge for checking. Thus, surveyor can only get pictures from cargo officer.

“On the other hand, there are also cases where the bunker tanker does not allow surveyors and crew from the receiving vessel, such as those which sailed from China within the last 14 days, to board the barge. The crew of some bunker tankers are not even allow to go on board the receiving vessel to connect the bunker hose.

“In some cases, the documents are simply placed into a basket or even plastic bag and transferred from the bunker vessel to the receiving vessel by pulling a rope for the Chief Engineer to sign.

“The above restrictions, when encountered, have resulted in surveyors trying their best to comply with bunkering standards SS 648 and SS 600 as it is now a situation where the bunker traders, suppliers and shipowners are making the rules for surveyors who have to adapt and do what they can to satisfy clients due to the extraordinary circumstances.”

A back-to-back trader buying marine fuel for a Chinese logistics firm, meanwhile, says he has seen approximately 30% lower demand for bunkers from Chinese shipowners due to COVID-19.

“The effect for me is not so great as I am in between markets but what is certain is a slowdown in the Chinese market due to slower trade,” he said.

“This could be because of the increased hassle of logistics and increased time to clear inventory due to overall slower demand. Trade is just not moving as much.”

The bunker manager for a top 10 shipping firm notes COVID-19 has not negatively affected its fuel procurement or bunker supply operations.

“We have been engaging bunker surveyors to complement our refuelling operations. The fundamental is our marine fuel suppliers are credible partners. This has helped to minimise any potential bunker delivery issues,” he said.

“The engagement of surveyors ensure that we have real time communication and updates of any bunker supplies, especially when there is an exception. These surveyor companies have taken enough precautionary measures to ensure their safety and protection considering the COVID-19 issue.

“We understand the barging companies have also implemented their own set of precautionary measures to minimising human interaction. The good thing is we get updates about the approach taken by the barging firms and this help us to better coordinate with surveyors and vessel Master to ensure a smooth operation.

“Information is abundant; the only thing is what is the precaution taken by various stakeholders to not allow COVID-19 to spread.”

Sean Warr, Bunker Procurement, Louis Dreyfus Company says COVID-19 has led to more precautions taken during bunkering operations; however, this does not mean the firm’s vessels avoiding bunkering operations at Chinese ports.

“We still lift bunkers in China; however, there is now much less interaction between crew and barge personnel at Chinese ports,” he notes, emphasising on crew safety as the priority.

“There has been a lot more precautions taken these days and part of them include barge and crew members needing to monitor their own health and temperature for reporting to the relevant port authority.

“Crew members and barge members have less interaction between each other during the bunker operations and this has led to bigger unreliability on receiving quantity at ports where mass flowmeter technology is not used for bunkering.

“As such, we have found that the disputed quantity has increased during this period.

“The MFM would be deemed more reliable during this period than sounding methods due to the movement restriction between crew and barge personnel.”

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 27 February, 2020

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Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands ops with new Shanghai branch office

The HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist E-Marine’s head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China.
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June 4, 2026

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Hong Kong-based marine fuel and lubricant trading company Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service Corporation Limited (E-Marine) on April 15 launched a branch office in Shanghai, learned Manifold Times.

The company HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist the head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China, Managing Director Darcy Wang told the bunkering publication.

“The Shanghai office serves as our China business support and coordination centre. It enables us to stay close to our customers, suppliers and business partners, while also providing access to a deep pool of industry talent,” he shared.

“This development is in line the target to significantly increase our annual bonded bunkering portfolio in China to 1 million metric tonnes (mt) by 2030.

“As we continue to expand our presence in China, we welcome capable and motivated individuals who share our long-term vision to join our Shanghai office.”

E-Marine’s new Shanghai office address is as follows:

Shanghai Xuhui District
Chang Ning Road No.889
Shanghai Yang Guang Bin Jiang Center
Unit 22-13

Candidates interested in growing together with E-Marine are invited to send their CV or profile to [email protected].

E Marine Shanghai office tea cups

Related: E-Marine raising China bonded bunker trading portfolio to 1 million mt by 2030, seeks talents
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine obtains ISCC EU certification
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine introduces Global Sales & Procurement Manager
Related: Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands operations with Singapore branch
Related: Bunker and lube trading firm Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service to open Singapore branch by June

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 4 June 2026

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Biofuel

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

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June 3, 2026

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BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

 

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

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Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.
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June 3, 2026

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NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier. 

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions. 

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said. 

 

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

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