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ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Availability tight across Houston and off Gulf Coast; suppliers in GOLA struggle to clear backlogs; VLSFO supply tight in Montevideo.

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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:

  • Availability tight across Houston and off Gulf Coast
  • Suppliers in GOLA struggle to clear backlogs
  • VLSFO supply tight in Montevideo

 

North America

All grades remain tight for prompt dates in the Houston area and bunker locations off the Gulf Coast. Lead times of 7-9 days are generally recommended in Houston to ensure full coverage from suppliers, up from last week’s 5-7 days.

Bunker suppliers in Houston and off the Gulf Coast are closely monitoring potential knock-on impacts from the recent Keystone Pipeline disruption. The stretch of the Keystone Pipeline that carries crude from Alberta, Canada crude to the storage hub in Cushing and the US Gulf Coast has remained offline since last Wednesday, after its operator TC Energy detected an oil leak of 14,000 bbls.  

On Wednesday, TC Energy restarted a minor segment of the Keystone Pipeline running to Wood River in Illinois, US, after a week of closure, but the operator is not yet certain when it will fully restart flows to the Gulf Coast.

Some suppliers in Houston and off the Gulf Coast area are rushing to get hold of any product they can as they fear less fuel to be produced as a result of the ongoing Keystone Pipeline disruption, a source says.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in Bolivar Roads. One major supplier requires at least eight days of lead time.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is tight in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA). Most of the suppliers have yet to confirm their earliest delivery dates. Recent bad weather led to a significant rise in bunker backlogs.

One supplier in GOLA is able to offer on a subject to the enquiry basis, but has simultaneously warned that actual delivery prospects can be unpredictable.

Availability for all grades is tight for prompt dates in New York. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are about 5-7 days, slightly shorter than Houston’s.

All grades remain tight for prompt dates in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. A longer lead time of at least 10-15 days is generally recommended to ensure full coverage from all suppliers. Securing HSFO is even more difficult and lead times can be unpredictable as the grade is supplied by fewer suppliers, a source says.

Overall bunker demand in Mexico’s Manzanillo has slowed coming into December, a source says. HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO availability remains normal, and five days of lead times are recommended.

Sources doubt whether the recent tightness in the Gulf Coast area will drive demand to Mexican ports.

 

Caribbean and Latin America

All grades are tight for prompt dates in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Supply is said to be tighter in Cristobal, primarily due to fewer suppliers. One supplier in Cristobal can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems with eight days of lead time, while others are hesitant to put up offers, a source says.

LSMGO availability is super tight off Trinidad. One supplier is running low on LSMGO stocks and only expects replenishment cargo volumes to arrive by early next month, sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Colombia’s Cartagena and Santa Marta. Recommended lead time for both grades is about three days.

Availability is tight for prompt dates at Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. One supplier requires at least seven days of lead days. Another can supply very prompt (0-3 days) as it has sufficient product loaded on its barge. Others require at least 5-8 days of lead time.

VLSFO availability is tight in Uruguay’s Montevideo. One major supplier is unable to confirm delivery dates as it has tight barge availability, sources say.

By Nithin Chandran

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 16 December, 2022

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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