Business

Singapore bunkering sector enters new chapter with first LNG dual fuelled tanker

The General Manager of Sinanju Tankers speaks with Manifold Times to explain its rational for building the first LNG-fuelled bunkering vessel in Singapore.

Published

8 years ago

April 10, 2018

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Singapore-based bunkering firm Sinanju Tankers Holdings (Sinanju) and project partner Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) (Mitsui AP) placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powered bunker tanker with Keppel Singmarine on Monday.

The development was based on a decision to support Singapore’s direction to be a global maritime hub for connectivity, innovation and talent as part of its Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map, says the General Manager of Sinanju.

“This vessel will be utilised to train crew on LNG handling procedures and safety,” Desmond Chong told Manifold Times in an interview.

“Operating this bunker tanker will add impetus for our staff and crew to familiarise themselves with the Technical Reference for LNG Bunkering (TR56:2017) and more importantly, the safe and efficient handling of LNG when re-fuelling this vessel.

“We will be in good stead when embarking in ship-to-ship LNG bunkering as our next milestone.”

The 7,990 dwt bunkering vessel, Singapore’s first, will be powered mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to deliver marine fuels to ocean-going vessels within local port limits. It is capable of delivering a variety of bunker fuels, with the exception of LNG, to receiving ships.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in October 2016 launched the LNG bunkering pilot programme with a budget of SGD $12 million to test operational protocols, gain operational experience and beef up Singapore’s capabilities in the areas of LNG bunkering.

In December 2017, it injected another SGD $12 million of funds to boost the development of LNG bunkering operations at Singapore; half of it has been set aside to co-fund the building of new LNG bunkering vessels while the remaining will be used to support the construction of LNG-fuelled vessels at Singapore.

The funds have been helpful in financing Sinanju’s latest newbuilding project; however, more needs to be done if the company were to take the next step of constructing a specialised bunkering vessel capable of delivering LNG as a marine fuel.

“MPA’s grant of up to SGD $3 million to build a LNG bunkering vessel is very much appreciated; but for now, when the price of a LNG newbuild is at two to three times the cost of a normal bunker tanker, it is simply too huge an investment hurdle for a small enterprise like ourselves to undertake,” says Chong.

“As the world’s largest bunkering port, we support MPA’s multi-pronged approach to position Singapore as a world leader in providing access to clean fuels such as LNG across key shipping routes.

“However, without clear direction from shipowners on their fuel requirements from 2020 onwards, and no indication by LNG-powered vessels on their LNG bunker volumes – and if at all to call at Singapore for LNG bunker, we have been forced to take a hard look at the commercial justification of investing in LNG bunkering vessels at this current moment.”

Moving on, Chong believes Sinanju’s newbuild dual fuel powered bunkering vessel will be able to meet the fuel delivery requirements of its clients at Singapore port.

“We see a trend in oil companies encouraging and promoting the use of LNG in the shipping industry as a clean alternative fuel,” he says.

“We thus believe that such a LNG-powered vessel would be aligned to our clients’ (namely the oil majors and independent suppliers) requirements for their use.”

Photo credit: Sinanju Tankers Holdings
Published: 10 April, 2018

Winding up

Singapore: Notice of intended dividend issued for Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidators of Da Xin Tankers and Nan Chiau Maritime by 5 August, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Two notices to declare the intended dividend of Xihe Holdings’ subsidiaries to their creditors have been posted on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (22 July).

The subsidiaries are Da Xin Tankers Pte Ltd and Nan Chiau Maritime Pte Ltd.

The following are the details of the notices of intended dividend:

Name of Company : Da Xin Tankers (Pte) Ltd (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 198400895W
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Name of Company : Nan Chiau Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No.: 200814296Z
Address of Registered Office : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 5 August 2026 at 5:00 pm by email to [email protected]
Name of Liquidators : Paresh Tribhovan Jotangia and Ho May Kee
Address : c/o Grant Thornton Singapore Private Limited, 8 Marina View, #40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1, Singapore 018960

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 23 July, 2026

Biofuel

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

Company says it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply.

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

South Korea: S-Oil launches B30-VLSFO bio bunker fuel supply

South Korean petroleum and refining company S-Oil on Wednesday (22 July) said it has started supplying B30 very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), as the company seeks to support shipping’s decarbonisation efforts and growing demand for lower-carbon bunker fuels.

The company said its B30 VLSFO contains 30% sustainable biofuel blended with conventional VLSFO and can be used without requiring modifications to existing vessels, enabling shipowners to comply more readily with emissions regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU).

S-Oil said it has established an integrated operating system in the Ulsan region covering the entire value chain, from feedstock procurement and blending to supply. The system combines VLSFO produced at its Onsan refinery with biofuel production facilities and storage infrastructure in the Ulsan region, allowing the entire process to be carried out within a single logistics hub.

According to the company, the integrated supply chain reduces transportation requirements during production while improving supply efficiency and reliability.

S-Oil also highlighted Ulsan Port as a strategic location for marine biofuel supply, noting the port has strong demand for bio-bunker fuels, particularly from car carriers, enabling prompt and stable deliveries to key customers.

An S-Oil official stated: “In the bio-marine fuel market, not only product quality but also securing a stable supply of raw materials and an efficient supply system are important competitive advantages.

“Based on our existing bunkering business capabilities and the excellent supply infrastructure in the Onsan area, we plan to supply stable and competitive low-carbon fuel.”

Photo credit: S-Oil
Published: 23 July, 2026

Decarbonisation

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

Both will explore solutions spanning emissions measurement and verification, a digital Book-and-Claim framework, and a joint maritime-land inset token package.

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Admin

Yang Ming and PSA to develop integrated sea-land decarbonisation solutions

PSA International (PSA) on Monday (20 July) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) to jointly accelerate the adoption of low-carbon solutions across the maritime value chain.

Beyond emissions measurement and verification, the collaboration will focus on a digital Book-and-Claim framework and a joint maritime-land based inset token package.

“This synergy provides cargo stakeholders with a transparent and accountable sea-land pathway to achieve their decarbonisation targets,” PSA said on its website.

Yang Ming launched the green transport service, EcoSea+. This initiative integrates Yang Ming’s low-carbon navigation capabilities to empower customers with a flexible and transparent strategy to effectively reduce their Scope 3 transportation emissions. By joining forces with PSA, Yang Ming is able to expand the impact of these sustainability actions beyond the ocean.

Building on its position as a global port operator, PSA advances its Node to Network strategy through integrated port and supply chain capabilities that enable a green network of terminal and landside operations to reduce end-to-end supply chain emissions.

The agreement was officially signed by Mr Ivan Chiang, Chief Logistics Officer & Senior Vice President of Yang Ming, and Mr Eddy Ng, Group Head of Operations, Technology and Sustainability of PSA International.

Mr Ong Kim Pong, PSA International Group CEO, said, “As responsible stewards of tomorrow, PSA is committed to delivering sustainable impact across the global port and supply chain ecosystem.

“Tackling the challenges arising from climate change will require the collective efforts of all players in the maritime supply chain sector. We are excited to partner Yang Ming on the decarbonisation of global supply chains and support the transition towards a more sustainable global economy.”

Photo credit: PSA International
Published: 23 July, 2026