Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO supply improves with replenishments in Vancouver; prompt VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Houston area; VLSFO supply tight for prompt dates in Santos.

Published

4 years ago

September 23, 2022

Admin

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

22 September 2022

VLSFO supply improves with replenishments in Vancouver
Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Houston area
VLSFO supply tight for prompt dates in Santos

North America

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available in the Houston area and off the US Gulf Coast. LSMGO can be tight for very prompt (0-3 days) delivery in New Orleans. A supplier has a tight schedule and requires lead times of about 4-5 days. Another supplier can commit stems with a shorter lead time.

Availability remains good for VLSFO and LSMGO in Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA). One supplier is able to accommodate both stems for very prompt dates. Another has held back offers for smaller quantities of VLSFO to increase its barge utilisation, sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO grades are available for prompt delivery dates in New York.

Some suppliers in Los Angeles and Long Beach can accommodate prompt stems. A supplier can deliver the two grades with 4-5 days of lead time, but longer lead times of about 10 days are generally recommended to ensure full coverage from all suppliers.

VLSFO supply has slightly improved in Canada’s Vancouver as a supplier received a resupply cargo late last week, sources say. Over the past few weeks, bunker buyers have struggled to secure VLSFO stems for both prompt and dates further out in the Canadian port as suppliers were running low on stock.

Another supplier in Vancouver is holding back VLSFO offers for prompt dates as it is fully booked for the remaining days of the month.

Availability is normal across all grades in Mexico’s Manzanillo. Recommended lead times for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO are about five days out. Prompt deliveries can be accommodated based on enquiries, sources say.

Caribbean and Latin America

All grades remain in tight availability for very prompt dates in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are about 6-8 days out among several suppliers in Balboa. Some can even offer deliveries for prompt dates, sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight for prompt dates off Trinidad. The earliest delivery date with a supplier is about 10 days out.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Colombia’s Santa Marta. The earliest delivery date with a supplier there is about seven days. Another can offer with a shorter lead time.

VLSFO supply is tight for prompt dates in Brazil’s Santos. Recommended lead times are about 10-11 days.

Securing VLSFO for prompt dates at the Zona Comun anchorage can be difficult. A supplier has a busy schedule and is hesitant to supply on prompt dates. Some suppliers are ready to commit to stems that have lead times of 7-10 days, a trader says.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 September 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

24 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

24 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

24 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