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Innospec launches Octamar™ series of additives for new blends of IMO 2020 bunker fuels

Octamar™ HF-10 Plus & Octamar™ Ultra HF both enhance the stability and compatibility of VLSFOs and hybrid fuels, company spokesman tells Manifold Times.

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Colorado-based global specialty chemicals company Innospec on Tuesday (3 September) launched a new series of additives specifically developed for new blends of 0.5% sulphur limit IMO 2020 bunker fuels at the 9th Biennial Bunkering in Asia conference.

The two new multi-functional additives, Octamar™ HF-10 Plus and Octamar™ Ultra HF, both enhance the stability and compatibility of VLSFOs and hybrid fuels; however, Octamar™ Ultra HF offers extra combustion improvements to aid blends with ignition issues.

“Additive solutions for marine fuels were simply a ‘good to have’ in the past, but now with IMO 2020 around the corner we are seeing so many people open to this cost effective measure for marine fuel risk management,” Martin Chew, Marine Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific, told Manifold Times.

“There is no straight forward solution for the changeover of IMO 2020 compliant fuels and a chemical [additive] solution is one of the ways vessels can transit from consuming HSFO to VLSFO in a safe and predictable manner.”

According to Chew, most ship owners are aware they are not recommended to mix the new blends of IMO 2020 compliant fuels due to potential issues.

“Segregation in storage tanks is possible on larger ships with many tanks. That said, in some cases this might reduce the range of the ship. Older ships with 1 set of settling and service tanks will certainly experience co-mingling at some point of time.”, he explains.

“Properties of these new fuels (e.g. viscosity, cold flow properties, CCAI and cat fines) are too varied and everyone knows of their possible stability and compatibility issues which can actually worsen under operating conditions.”

“In the end, co-mingling cannot be avoided especially when you get another new batch of compliant fuel to go on top of an initially compliant fuel – that is where the problem comes in.”

Chew notes of field reports indicating sludging issues faced by ship owners when less than 10% of different IMO 2020 compliant marine fuel blends are mixed together.

“The reason for the large range of properties seen in IMO 2020 compliant fuels is due to refiners, who are more concerned about meeting  ISO 8217 specifications, each having different blends.”, informs Lawrence Chia, VP Sales – Asia Pacific, Performance Specialities.

Innospec has been supplying additives to heavy fuel refining customers for the past 80 years.

“We are also working with a lot of refineries and we’re trying to help them to meet the specifications of IMO 2020 fuels; what we are seeing is that they are having problems with CFPP (cold filter plugging point), pour point, TSP (total sediment potential), and combustibility.” notes Chia.

“That’s why we are seeing compliant fuels produced by refiners having a wide range and much lower viscosity. As the refiners’ concern is limited to meeting the ISO 8217 specification, the potential operational issues are with the end user.”

“Our products [Octamar™ HF-10 Plus and Octamar™ Ultra HF] have gone through intensive R&D over the past one year where we collected close to 100 samples for testing at the refinery level.”

“We actually tested our additives on IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels and can verify these products are able to stabilise the fuels and greatly reduce the chances of operational issues when the fuels are co-mingled.”

Contact details of Chew and Chia are as follows:

Martin Chew
Marine Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific
Direct: +65 6664 8610
Email: [email protected]

Lawrence Chia
VP Sales – Asia Pacific, Performance Specialities
Direct: +65 6664 8606
Email: [email protected]

Innospec Limited
Branch Office Singapore
47 Scotts Road
#06-01 Goldbell Towers
Singapore 228233

Photo credit: Innospec
Published: 6 September, 2019

 

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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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