Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO available in major US ports; demand improves in West Coast ports; still muted demand in New York.

Published

3 years ago

April 14, 2023

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:

13 April 2023

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO available in major US ports
Demand improves in West Coast ports
Still muted demand in New York

North America

Demand has improved in Houston in the past week. VLSFO and LSMGO grades are generally in good supply with suppliers in the Houston area. Most suppliers are able to deliver stems within 2-3 days of lead time, as well as for dates further out. While HSFO generally requires around 5-6 days of lead time.

Securing prompt LSMGO and VLSFO stems in Bolivar Roads and Beaumont is possible now. Suppliers are able to deliver stems within 3-4 days of lead time. One supplier can deliver HSFO stems in Beaumont with four days of lead time.

Suppliers in Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) can accommodate prompt stems within 3-4 days of lead time amid calmer weather. But a period of strong winds between Sunday and Monday could disrupt bunkering in GOLA again.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is said to be normal at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA). Stronger demand has been seen for dates after 20 April, and most suppliers are able to offer stems for their enquired dates.

Demand has been slightly better in the West Coast port of Los Angeles in the past week. Some suppliers are able to deliver LSMGO and VLSFO stems within a lead time of seven days, however suppliers have cautioned buyers about tightening availability in the coming days.

Similarly, demand has picked up in Vancouver further up the North American west coast. And some suppliers are able to deliver LSMGO with a lead time of 5-7 days.

VLSFO and LSMGO grades are available for prompt delivery dates in New York, but demand remains low in the port.

Caribbean and Latin America

Prompt availability of HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Some suppliers are able to offer stems within 4-7 days of lead time. Demand has also improved in Panama compared to the previous week.

Slow demand continues in Jamaica’s Kingston and the Bahamas’ Freeport. Similarly, demand for all fuel grades have been low off Trinidad in the past week. Most suppliers are able to offer stems immediately.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability looks good in Brazil’s Rio Grande and Rio de Janeiro, a source says.

Demand has slowed down again in Argentina’s Zona Comun. VLSFO and LSMGO have been available for prompt dates at the anchorage. A supplier is able to offer the stems with a lead time of 3-5 days. Brief spells of strong winds are forecast to hit Zona Comun from Monday onwards.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 14 April, 2023

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

14 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

14 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

14 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026