Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

More prompt LSMGO available in Rotterdam; ARA’s gasoil stocks recover for second consecutive week; slight congestion in Gibraltar.

Published

4 years ago

May 12, 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:

11 May 2022

More prompt LSMGO available in Rotterdam
ARA’s gasoil stocks recover for second consecutive week
Slight congestion in Gibraltar

Northwest Europe

Supply of HSFO and VLSFO remains tight in ARA ports, while more suppliers are now offering prompt delivery for LSMGO, particularly in Rotterdam, sources say.

The recommended lead time for LSMGO in ARA ports has come down to around three days, from around seven days during the peak supply crunch at the end of April, they say. This follows two weeks of marginal gasoil stock builds in the ARA.

Supplies were tight in the ARA during last month, when the region’s independently held gasoil stocks declined to eight-year lows amid some self-sanctioning of Russian oil imports.

The EU has been inching closer to block-wide ban oil imports from Russia, but pushback from Hungary and others has prolonged the process.

Meanwhile, availability is normal off Skaw, where prompt deliveries are taking place.

In the German port of Hamburg, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is good. Recommended lead times for both the grades is around five days, a source says.

In Bremerhaven, supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal, requiring a lead time of about five days, However, availability of VLSFO in Bremerhaven depends on the enquiry, the source adds.

Mediterranean

Availability of all fuel grades is under pressure in Gibraltar Strait, where prompt deliveries can be tricky to find, sources say.

Recommended lead times for HSFO and LSMGO are 5-7 days, while VLSFO requires longer lead times in Gibraltar, a source says.

A period of strong winds was experienced in Gibraltar Strait ports this week. Five vessels were waiting space to enter the western anchorage on Wednesday morning, with one supplier experiencing 4-8 hours of bunker delays, says port agent MH Bland.

Algeciras was fully operational on Wednesday with no congestion. Some congestion was expected to build at the inner anchorage later Wednesday, MH Bland said.

Bunker operations have been running smoothly in Ceuta, where five vessels were due to arrive for bunkers on Wednesday, agent Jose Salama & Cia said.

In Las Palmas, anchorage areas are open for bunkering and the weather forecast looks good for the coming week. One supplier is delayed by around a day, according to MH Bland.

Supply of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Malta as well. Some suppliers are offering prompt deliveries in Malta. Weather conditions look good for the coming days and there are no bunker backlogs, Seatrans Shipping agency says.

Africa

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is tight in the South African port of Durban, where suppliers are avoiding offers for prompt delivery. Recommended lead times for the two grades in Durban is more than seven days, a source says.

Photo credit: ENGINE
Published: 12 May, 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

15 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

15 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

15 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