Business

Bahrain port introduces restrictions over open loop EGCS discharge

Bahrain authority ‘strongly encourages’ the use of close loop mode when vessels sail within Bahraini waters.

Published

6 years ago

January 2, 2020

Admin

The GAC Group on Tuesday (31 December) published a set of instructions from the Bahrain Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications that introduces certain restrictions over the discharge of washwater from open loop mode EGCS systems into Bahraini territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ):

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has released a set of instructions for all Bahraini flagged vessels and foreign flagged vessels calling Bahraini ports or operating in Bahraini waters that intend to use the exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) in compliance with the sulphur limit of 0.50 % (m/m) in fuel oil from 1 January 2020.

They apply to:

All seagoing Bahraini flagged vessels (150 GT and above) registered under Amiri decree no. 14/1978 with respect to law for registration of ship and determination of safety conditions thereof.
All foreign flagged vessels visiting Bahraini waters.

Use of EGCS:

Under "Equivalents" principle, ships may use approved equivalent methods, such as EGCS "scrubbers", which clean the emissions before they are released into the atmosphere, provided it meet the requirements of IMO 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems adopted by resolution MEPC.259(68).
Each EGC unit (two schemes A and B are available) should be approved by flag authority or Recognized Organizations (RO) on behalf of the flag administration and issued with a Compliance Certificate by the flag administration or RO.
In both Schemes, the condition of discharged washwater used in the scrubbing process is to be monitored and recorded.

Discharging of EGCS Washwater:

Discharging of washwater from open loop mode EGC systems (Scrubber) is prohibited when ship is within limit of port of Bahrain including the anchorage area.

Discharging of washwater from open loop mode EGC systems (Scrubber) into Bahraini territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is not permitted unless it can be proven that the discharge of washwater complies with the IMO 2015 guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems (MEPC.259(68)) and there is no negative impact on marine ecosystems.
Master of any vessels shall obtain a permit from Marine Safety & Environment Protection Directorate (MSEPD) at PMA before undertaking any discharge of washwater within the waters of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Ships intending to discharge of washwater into the sea must submit their request to MSEPD before discharging and provide the following information to [email protected] :
1. Vessel name
2. IMO number
3. Arrival port
4. Arrival date
5. EGCS Scheme A or Scheme B approval
6. Make and Model of EGCS
7. Open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid type system
8. Results of all washwater testing that has been undertaken in accordance with 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.
  For h), washwater testing should be conducted upon commissioning of the EGCS and repeated every twelve months, as a minimum, for a period of two years. Ships may be directed not to discharge washwater from an EGCS in Bahraini waters if this data, or evidence that samples have been taken for analysis, cannot be provided to PMA.
PMA strongly encourages the vessel to use the close loop mode (no discharge over board) when it sails within Bahraini waters.

EGCS Washwater Residue:

Washwater residues generated by the EGC unit should be delivered ashore to adequate reception facilities. Such residues should not be discharged into the sea or incinerated onboard.
Each ship fitted with an EGC unit should record the storage and disposal of washwater residues in an EGC log, including the date, time and location of such storage and disposal.

For more information or information about operations in Bahrain, contact GAC Bahrain at [email protected]

Source: The GAC Group
Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 2 January, 2020

Bunker Fuel

Huanghua Port expands bunkering capabilities with dedicated fuel oil terminal

Previously, bunkering vessels serving Huanghua Port were required to replenish marine fuel oil at other ports, including Tianjin, before returning to carry out bunkering operations, often resulting in delays.

Published

17 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Admin

Huanghua Port has strengthened its marine fuel supply infrastructure with the commissioning of its first dedicated, all-weather bunker terminal, a move aimed at improving vessel turnaround times and supporting growing shipping activity at the port, according to China-based news outlets on Thursday (11 June).

On 9 June, bunker tanker Heng Feng You 165 completed fuel loading operations at the terminal in the Huanghua Port Comprehensive Port Area before proceeding to an anchorage to provide bunkering services to waiting cargo vessels.

According to local authorities, the new facility addresses a longstanding bottleneck in the port’s marine fuel supply chain.

Yao Meichen, Deputy Director of the Cangzhou Municipal Ocean and Port Administration Bureau said bunkering vessels serving Huanghua Port were required to replenish marine fuel oil at other ports previously, including Tianjin, before returning to carry out bunkering operations, often resulting in delays for vessels awaiting bunkers.

As cargo throughput and vessel traffic have increased in recent years, the absence of a specialised bunker terminal became a constraint on port efficiency. To address the issue, local authorities invested RMB 266 million (USD 39 million) to develop Huanghua Port’s first dedicated marine fuel oil terminal and actively pursued regulatory approvals for both a domestic transfer export bonded warehouse and a liquid bonded storage facility.

The terminal, which entered service at the end of last year, features a dedicated 5,000-dwt berth and storage tanks with a combined capacity of 66,000 cubic metres. It has a designed annual throughput capacity of 820,000 tonnes and primarily handles marine gasoil as well as 120 CST and 180 CST fuel oils.

Authorities said the facility has been operating smoothly since its launch and is capable of ensuring a stable supply of bunker fuel for vessels calling at the port.

The bunkering infrastructure will be further enhanced following approval from Shijiazhuang Customs for the establishment of both the domestic transfer export bonded warehouse and liquid bonded storage facilities. The additions are expected to strengthen Huanghua Port’s ability to provide bunkering services to international-going vessels.

“The commissioning of the marine fuel oil terminal has completely changed the previous situation of off-site fuel supply and ships queuing for fuel, achieving benefits for both bunkering vessels and cargo ships,” said Dong Xianke, General Manager of Cangzhou Bohai New Area Gangkun Marine Fuel Co., Ltd., the terminal’s operator.

Photo credit: David Yu from Pixabay
Published: 16 June, 2026

Methanol

China: Chimbusco takes delivery of new methanol bunkering vessel in Zhoushan

Company says commissioning of “Zhong Ran LV Neng 85” will further enhance its service capabilities in green methanol bunkering in major domestic ports.

Published

17 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Admin

Chimbusco takes delivery of new methanol bunkering vessel in Zhoushan

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) (Chimbusco) recently took delivery of its first bunkering vessel in China to deliver methanol to dual-fuel ships.

The 8,500-dwt duplex stainless steel chemical tanker Zhong Ran LV Neng 85 was successfully delivered in Zhoushan.

The company said the commissioning of this new ship will further enhance Chimbusco’s service capabilities in green methanol bunkering in major domestic ports and expand its national marine new energy service and support network

During the delivery period, Chimbusco said it focused on safe operations and conducted special training for all crew members of the vessel.

The training covered methanol bunkering operation specifications, prevention of collisions between commercial and fishing vessels, daily vessel reporting, and voyage report filling standards.

Manifold Times previously reported the launching of the bunkering vessel at Taizhou Fangzhen Shipbuilding Wharf in Zhejiang.

The floating out of the ship comes after Chimbusco has obtained methanol bunkering licences for Shanghai Port and Ningbo Port.

Photo credit: China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) (Chimbusco)
Published: 16 June, 2026

LNG Bunkering

CCEC and CMA CGM form joint venture to build and operate LNG bunkering vessel

Each party will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture, which has been established for the purpose of constructing, chartering, and operating one 20,000 cbm dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel.

Published

17 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Admin

Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (CCEC), an international owner of ocean-going gas vessels, on Friday (12 June) announced the formation of a joint venture company with CMA CGM.

Each party will hold a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture, which has been established for the purpose of constructing, chartering, and operating one 20,000 cbm dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel.

The joint venture marks CCEC’s entry into the LNG bunkering segment, the company’s first vessel dedicated to marine fuel supply.

In connection with this transaction, the joint venture has entered into a shipbuilding contract with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) for the construction of the vessel at a contract price of USD 82.8 million, with delivery expected in the third quarter of 2028.

Incorporating the latest technologies, the vessel is designed to enable safe and reliable LNG transfers across a wide range of operating conditions. Advanced emissions reduction systems, combined with highly efficient dual-fuel power generation, are designed to help the vessel meet applicable environmental standards of the global shipping industry.

In addition, the joint venture is expected to enter into a 12-year time charter with a joint venture company formed between CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, commencing upon delivery of the vessel from the shipyard.

Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO of Capital Clean Energy Carriers, commented: “This joint venture marks CCEC’s entry into LNG bunkering — a natural extension of our gas platform from carriage into marine fuel supply.

“Working alongside counterparties of the calibre of CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, we can help build the infrastructure that allows LNG to deliver a cleaner emissions profile, alongside security and diversity of supply, while opening a new, long-term contracted revenue stream for the Company through the Joint Venture.”

Christine Cabau, Executive Vice President Operations and Assets of CMA CGM, said: “Together with Capital Clean Energy Carriers and TotalEnergies, we are committed to building a reliable and high-performance LNG bunkering supply chain, which is essential to ensuring the availability and reliability of fuels such as LNG that represent the first step in the decarbonization of our industry.”

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 16 June, 2026