Singapore bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services (EMF) confirmed that it will be building two additional 7,999 dwt IMO Type II Chemical and Oil Tankers that will be used as bunker tankers at the Port of Singapore, learned Manifold Times.

Earlier in December 2022, EMF placed an order for two similar newbuildings at Zhejiang Shenzhou Sunshine Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.; the first two units are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2024 while the remaining two will arrive at the republic by Q2 2025.

“We made a calculated decision to build two units followed by another two based on our fleet renewal and replacement program,” said Choong Sheen Mao, Director of EMF.

“While the market share of alternative marine fuels is projected to increase, the CO₂ emission factor or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of such fuels will be even lower than what we are commonly seeing today. Presently, conventional bunker tankers in Singapore are only allowed to carry and deliver biofuel blends of up to 25%. As such, a “new generation” of bunker tankers is required to carry lower-carbon marine fuels such as biofuel (above 25% blends) and green methanol.

“The newbuildings are compatible with net-zero fuels, and can consume pure biodiesel (B100) as their fuel when operating in port. This enables us, as shipowners too, to comply with upcoming environmental regulations. We will also effectively be reducing our customers’ Scope 3 emissions.”

“The time frame for our fleet renewal is ideal as it puts us in a position to be ready to handle lower-carbon fuels while addressing our current tonnage requirements.”

Mr Choong notes the cargo tanks of the bunker tankers are coated with a phenolic epoxy compound. Essentially, the newbuildings are constructed to IMO Type II Chemical and Oil Tanker specifications allowing for the transportation and delivery of methanol and biofuel of up to B100 content in addition to conventional marine fuels.

So Kah Meng, Sustainable Energy Manager of EMF, shares: “We encountered several challenges including meeting the additional technical specifications related to safe methanol bunkering.”

“As such, there must be specialised detectors for methanol fire and suitable types of firefighting apparatus onboard the new bunker tankers. Crew working onboard these vessels will be adequately trained in handling the equipment.

“Our active participation in various methanol study and working groups have allowed us to gain critical knowledge in addressing these key issues.”

According to Mr Choong, EMF anticipates that biofuels and methanol to be increasing their market share in the coming years, hence new supporting infrastructure and services will be required.

“As a leading bunker supplier in Singapore, Equatorial has to be dynamic in making sustainable business decisions for providing different types of marine fuels and decarbonisation solutions,” he said.

“The global order book currently indicates more than 200 methanol-fuelled vessels entering the shipping market; this data has supported our decision to construct a new generation of bunker tankers to deliver methanol and various types of marine fuels.

Moving forward, Mr Choong is confident that Singapore will continue to be a leading maritime and bunkering hub.

“Equatorial has been proactively participating in various types of consortiums, innovative initiatives led by numerous maritime related partners that are driving the development of alternative marine fuel supply chains in Singapore,” he highlights.

“We foresee more alternative marine fuel bunkering trials taking place over the next 2 to 3 years that will continue to place Singapore as the leading bunkering hub for all types of marine fuels.”

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Photo credit: Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services
Published: 22 November 2023