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Singapore: IT firms to tackle bunker operations optimisation

Sinanju and PCL jointly present challenge statement to entrepreneurial IT teams at Smart Port Challenge 2018.

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A challenge to optimise the scheduling for Singapore bunkering operations has been presented to entrepreneurial IT teams at the Smart Port Challenge 2018, an initiative under the PIER71 innovation programme.

The requirement, jointly presented by Singapore-based bunker tanker operator Sinanju Tankers Holdings and shipping company Pacific Carriers Limited, calls for the development of a ‘real-time’ system to track the timing of vessel arrivals.

“At present, changes to vessel arrival timings are not tracked in real time and only available in varied systems requiring manual checks,” said the challenge statement.

“Sinanju and PCL seek solutions for how bunker suppliers can collaborate to improve utilisation rate of their bunker tankers; while ships can have their bunkers delivered timely and accurately.”

Desmond Chong, General Manager at Sinanju, explained to Manifold Times such an IT solution will benefit the Singapore bunkering industry as a whole due to increased efficiency.

The manual tracking of vessel arrival timings is a time-consuming task for bunker industry players, and can also present potential delay in bunker delivery schedules, introducing possible demurrage charges.

Furthermore, bunkering operations at Singapore have become faster paced with the introduction of mass flow meters (MFMs).

“We are experiencing increased efficiency with the use of MFM technology for fuel oil bunkering and expect operations to streamline further in July 2019 when all distillate bunkers at Singapore will be delivered through MFMs,” he says.

“An IT system to track the timing of vessel arrivals not only brings more efficiency to our bunker supply chain, together with the use of MFMs, but increased reliability as well.”

Bernard Liew, General Manager (Strategic Planning & Corporate Projects) at PCL, is optimistic that a plethora of innovative solutions will arise from the various challenges curated by MPA for the Smart Port Challenge.

“PCL owns and operates over 100 vessels globally, ranging from drybulk, multipurpose vessels, feeder containerships to oil & gas tankers,” he says.

“We live in the digital age, and as a world class organisation that prides itself on reliability and service excellence, we believe it is necessary to constantly evolve ourselves to maximise our productivity and efficiency in order to serve our customers better.

“PCL bunkers 52% of its needs from Singapore. This fuels the desire for us to foster creative and collaborative solutions in bunkering operations to achieve better vessel utilization for both our vessels and bunker barge operators.

“We foresee that an IT solution enabling the tracking of vessel arrivals in ‘real-time’ will be a significant innovation that will lead to greater cost-efficiency and resource optimisation.

We have been partnering with our existing bunker suppliers for more than two decades, and look forward to the opportunity to jointly participate with them in the future on any new solutions that arise from the Smart Port Challenge.”

PIER71 is an industry-wide acceleration programme setup by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore to encourage the maritime industry to adopt innovation and venture into new growth areas through collaboration with technology start-ups.

Photo credit: Pacific Carriers Limited
Published: 6 June, 2018
 

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GCMD: Project CAPTURED achieves two regulatory milestones for onboard captured CO2

CO2 captured onboard during the project has been formally recognised for compliance under the EU ETS while a proposal submitted to MEPC 84, based on the project, has received IMO’s in-principle support.

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Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (21 July) said Project CAPTURED has achieved two regulatory milestones that strengthen the commercial case for onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS).

This comes following its world’s first demonstration of an end-to-end value chain for onboard captured and liquefied CO2 (LCO2).

Completed in June 2025, the pilot showed that CO2 captured onboard a vessel can be offloaded ship-to-ship, transported overland and permanently bound through carbon mineralisation—a process that converts captured CO₂ into stable materials for industrial use.

The CO2 captured onboard during Project CAPTURED has been formally recognised for compliance under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). This means the verified tonnage of captured CO2 can be deducted from emissions requiring the surrender of EU Allowances (EUAs).

To qualify for this recognition, the CO2 must be chemically bound permanently in eligible products. Project CAPTURED demonstrated that CO2 captured onboard vessels can meet this requirement through carbon mineralisation.

The data and learnings from the same demonstration formed the basis of a proposal submitted to MEPC 84. This proposal received in-principle support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for recognising carbon mineralisation as a form of permanent CO₂ storage.

Complementing geological sequestration, which is already accepted by the IMO, this recognition broadens the downstream options for CO2 captured onboard vessels, and supports the development of maritime carbon value chains. Beyond providing a permanent storage pathway, carbon mineralisation also creates the potential for captured CO2 to serve not only as a waste stream requiring permanent storage, but also as a feedstock for industrial applications through carbon mineralisation, extending emissions reductions beyond the shipping value chain.

Professor Lynn Loo, CEO, GCMD, said, “Project CAPTURED has moved OCCS beyond technical demonstration. The acceptance of the EU ETS deduction gives captured CO₂ a compliance value. At the same time, IMO’s in-principle support for carbon mineralisation will help clarify how captured CO2 can be treated after it leaves the vessel. Together, these milestones turn a pilot into a verified reference case for maritime carbon logistics, one that links regulatory recognition, commercial value and emissions impact.”

 

Photo credit: Venti Views on Unsplash
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Technology

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

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Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Technology

Genevos and Koedood Marine Group team up on maritime hydrogen fuel cell deployment

Collaboration will explore how ready-to-use marine fuel cell systems can support shipowners and shipyards in the transition towards zero-emission operations.

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Genevos and Koedood Marine Group team up on maritime hydrogen fuel cell deployment

Marine fuel cell systems provider Genevos recently said the company signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with engine supplier Koedood Marine Group to explore the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell systems for inland and coastal maritime transport. 

The LOI was signed by Phil Sharp, co-founder and CTO of Genevos, and Mühlheim, Business Development Director of Koedood Marine Group during the 2026 Advanced Maritime Technology Show in Amsterdam.

Building on Koedood’s proven experience in hydrogen maritime projects – including its ongoing work with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and TNO on hydrogen engine development – the collaboration will explore how ready-to-use marine fuel cell systems can support shipowners and shipyards in the transition towards zero-emission operations. 

“Koedood has a strong reputation in the maritime sector and a deep understanding of vessel operators’ needs. This LOI is an important step in exploring how Genevos’ hydrogen fuel cell systems can be deployed more widely across inland and maritime applications, helping shipowners reduce onboard emissions with robust, practical and scalable clean power solutions,” said Sharp.

The collaboration aligns with growing market demand for rapidly deployable hydrogen solutions and the wider need to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technologies across the maritime sector. 

“With this collaboration, we are further strengthening our portfolio of maritime energy solutions. Together with Genevos, we are exploring how we can support our customers in the adoption of hydrogen technology,” said Mühlheim.

 

Photo credit: Genevos
Published: 20 July, 2026

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