Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

ExxonMobil’s Antwerp refinery undergoes maintenance; Gibraltar and Algeciras suffer massive congestion; Swedish dockworkers to block Russian vessels and cargo.

Published

5 years ago

March 24, 2022

Admin

The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

ExxonMobil’s Antwerp refinery undergoes maintenance
Gibraltar and Algeciras suffer massive congestion
Swedish dockworkers to block Russian vessels and cargo

VLSFO and LSMGO availability has improved somewhat in the ARA and Gibraltar Strait bunkering hubs this week, while HSFO remains relatively tighter, sources say. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO is 4-6 days, and HSFO is around 7-10 days.

ExxonMobil announced last week that its Antwerp refinery is undergoing maintenance works. The company has not officially confirmed the duration of the maintenance, but traders expect it could take a month before the works are complete and production has normalised again. The refinery has a total nameplate capacity of 320,000 b/d, and produces fuel oil and gasoil for the local bunker market.

The refinery enters a turnaround at a time when Shell’s Pernis refinery in Rotterdam is already undergoing a major maintenance, scheduled to last until June.

TotalEnergies announced this week it will no longer enter into or renew contracts to purchase Russian oil and oil products, following several other European oil and gas firms in phasing out Russian oil imports.

Shell, BP, Equinor, Galp, Repsol, ENI and others have made similar announcements since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started a month ago, moves that could impact production at their refineries.

ARA’s independent gasoil stocks fell by 2% last week and remain close to recent multi-year lows, while fuel oil stocks held roughly steady below their five-year average, Insights Global data showed.

Availability of HSFO and LSMGO is tight in Hamburg, while VLSFO is normal. Demand is said to have been slow in recent days. Recommended lead times are around 3-5 days for VLSFO.

In nearby Bremerhaven, HSFO and VLSFO availability is better compared to LSMGO, which requires 4-5 days of lead time.

HSFO and LSMGO is “super tight” across Italian most ports. The tightness is largely due to the slowdown of Russian imports, which has also affected production at local refinery, sources say. VLSFO availability is fine in Genoa and prompt deliveries are possible.

Bunker fuel availability in Piraeus is normal but deliveries could be affected due to barge availability. “Suppliers are able to find one way or other to deliver the fuel, however prompt deliveries are difficult,” sources say. Recommended lead times are around 5-7 days.

The Swedish Dockworkers Union has notified Ports of Sweden that its workers will not handle any vessels or cargo from or to Russia in any Swedish ports from 28 March.

Around 85% of Sweden’s fuel oil imports come from Russia. Together with fuel oil imports from Norway (11%) and Finland (4%), the Russian fuel oil has supplemented domestic Swedish refinery production of fuel oil as a by-product, or as processed VLSFO.

Bunker operations outside Gibraltar’s outer port limits were suspended on Wednesday morning due to high swells and strong wind.

Similarly, bunkering at Algeciras’ outer C and D anchorages are likely to be affected due to strong winds and swell, says MH Bland. Bunker operations are possible at outer anchorages but are subject to decisions from the harbour master and barge operators.

The recent deteriorating weather conditions in Gibraltar and Algeciras will possibly add to existing congestion. A total of 35 vessels were waiting to bunker in the two ports on Wednesday.

Port all operations are also suspended in the bay of Ceuta, MH Bland says. Two vessels were waiting to bunker at anchorage in Ceuta on Wednesday, with another three vessels expected to arrive throughout the day, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Cia.

Maersk announced on Tuesday it has stopped accepting any laden export containers in Ireland’s Dublin port- Marine Terminal Ltd (MTL), as the terminal is over-congested.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 24 March, 2022

Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.

Published

11 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September).

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately.

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred.

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

12 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

Published

12 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post.

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.”

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment.

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026