Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Hurricane Ian disrupts bunker deliveries across Florida; Houston HSFO and VLSFO prices down to nine-month lows; Zona Comun recovers from brief bunker disruptions.

Published

4 years ago

September 30, 2022

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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:

29 September 2022

Hurricane Ian disrupts bunker deliveries across Florida
Houston HSFO and VLSFO prices down to nine-month lows
Zona Comun recovers from brief bunker disruptions

North America

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO grades are readily available in the Houston area and off the US Gulf Coast. Houston’s VLSFO benchmark fell to nine-month lows earlier this week, before recovering some of these losses.

Bunker availability has remained steady in Houston and New York in recent weeks, with prompt deliveries more readily available compared to other bunker hubs where prompt suppliers are still unpredictable.

All grades remain tight for prompt dates in Long Beach and Los Angeles ports on the US West Coast. Some suppliers in Long Beach have held back prompt VLSFO offers, while another requires at least nine days of lead time.

As the Category 4 Hurricane Ian approached and hit Florida’s coastline this week, bunker operations have been disrupted in Port Tampa Bay and the smaller nearby ports of St. Petersburg and Port Charlotte.

On Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded Hurricane Ian from Category 4 to Category 1 as wind speeds had been reduced after it moved more inland toward Florida. But NHC has warned that a storm surge is expected to continue Thursday and Friday along the coast of northeast Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Prompt bunker supplies remain difficult to find in Port Everglades in Miami. Several suppliers are hesitant to confirm delivery dates due to Hurricane Ian. Some buyers are struggling to secure truck deliveries, which are even harder to find now, sources say.

With bunker operations almost at standstill in Florida, vessels have been diverted to other regional ports to bunker. Demand has grown for very prompt bunker deliveries (1-3 days) at ports such as New Orleans, Galveston and Corpus Christi further west in the Gulf of Mexico. These ports have been less impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Some suppliers are offering VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt dates at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA).

Availability remains steady across all grades in Mexico’s Manzanillo. Recommended lead times for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO are about five days out.

Further north in the Americas, LSMGO supply is tight in Montreal. The earliest delivery date with a supplier is about 8-10 days ahead.

Caribbean and Latin America

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is readily available with some suppliers in Panama’s Balboa, while pressure on Cristobal’s smaller number of barges is keeping prompt availability tight there. Meanwhile, one supplier in Cristobal can accommodate some prompt supplies.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight for prompt dates off Trinidad. A supplier is set to receive a resupply cargo in the coming days and requires a lead time of about seven days.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Colombia’s Santa Marta. The earliest delivery date with a supplier there is about 6-7 days out. Another can offer supply with a shorter lead time.

VLSFO supply has improved in Brazil’s Santos. The earliest lead time with a supplier has halved on the week, to 5-7 days now.

Bunker operations were disrupted in Argentinian ports last weekend, as a tugboat workers union striked over wage disputes. Operations resumed later on Monday after the union called off the strike.

Recommended lead times of VLSFO and LSMGO in Zona Comun are about 6-7 days.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 30 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

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

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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

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

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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

1 day 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