Bunker Fuel

China: Zhoushan achieves 7 million mt of bonded bunker fuel milestone

Zhoushan Marine Fuel Association says Zhoushan registered a 16.95% on year increase, firmly placing it at the top spot of bunkering ports in China and gradually narrowing the gap with Fujairah.

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

Admin

Editor’s note: Mawei Marine Bunker Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. has been corrected to Helios Marine Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. and C &D Clean Energy has been corrected to Zhejiang C & D Energy Resources Co., Ltd.

Zhoushan Marine Fuel Association on Tuesday (2 January) said Zhoushan achieved 7.05 million metric tonnes (mt) of bonded bunkering volume in 2023, exceeding the bonded bunkering volume of 6 million mt in the previous year.

The association said this meant Zhoushan registered a 16.95% on year increase, firmly placing it at the top spot of bunkering ports in China and gradually narrowing its gap with Fujairah, the world’s third largest refuelling port.

The association said the achievement is largely due to Zhoushan’s consistent focus on developing the entire bunkering industry, its persistence in reform, innovation in response to market demand and its proactive efforts to improve.

“Since last year, we have focused on continuous efforts in areas such as new bunker fuels, hardware facilities, digital supervision, and price systems,” it said.

One of the major areas of development in the area include expanding its categories of bunkering including implementing the country’s first offshore anchorage LNG bunkering and first anchorage container ship biofuel bunkering.

“Zhoushan has become the first port in the country that has the capabilities to refuel multiple types of bunker fuels,” it added.

Another step Zhoushan took was to extend the bunkering operation time period for ships in Xiu Shandong Anchorage and improve the anchorage’s bunkering efficiency. Last year, the bunker fuel supply volume of Xiu Shandong Anchorage reached 722,700 mt, a year-on-year increase of 115%. At present, there are more than 20 anchorages in the five major bunker fuel supply anchorages in Zhoushan, forming a south-central-north connection layout.

The Xiazhimen North, Mazhi, and Xiushan East anchorages can provide bunkering operations at night.

The association stated that a total of 59 whitelisted bunkering vessels with higher standards were approved , of which a total of nine “Zhoushan ship type” bunkering vessels were put into operation.

The first ship of the “Zhoushan ship type” version 2.0 was also launched recently with it setting sail for its maiden voyage. The upgraded ship type has significant improvement to its wind and wave resistance compared to the previous version. The version 2.0 ship type has the ability to supply oil under higher wave height conditions in outer anchorages.

Zhoushan also added new functions to the “International Bunkering Intelligent Supervision Service System” such as new bunker declaration and auxiliary supervision for border inspection while the “Ship Oil Supply and Security” system has been put into operation to ensure offshore bunkering anchorage space optimization with sensorless remote supervision.

The association also said new bunker players have entered Zhoushan including Zhejiang C & D Energy Resources Co., Ltd, Hengli Petrochemical, and Helios Marine Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. forming a diversified competitive market of state-owned, private, and foreign capital.

“The total number of bunker fuel supply companies in Zhoushan has reached 19. In 2023, Zhoushan licensed companies added 3.1839 million mt of bunker fuel, a year-on-year increase of 24.77%,” it said.

Lastly, the association stated Zhoushan took the initiative to launch “China Zhoushan Low-Sulphur and High-Sulphur Fuel Oil Bonded Ship Supply Quotation”, “Zhoushan Oil Storage Comprehensive Price Index” and “Zhejiang Liquefied Natural Gas Spot Price” as benchmarks for the country’s bonded bunker fuel market prices.

Disclaimer: The above article published by Manifold Times was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. While considerable efforts have been taken to verify its accuracy through a professional translator and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty is made regarding the accuracy, completeness and reliability of any information.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 8 January, 2024

Related Topics:Business - Events Business - Milestone

Up Next

LR: Governments need to invest in bunkering infrastructure necessary for new marine fuels

Don't Miss

Malaysia: MMEA detains Majuro-registered geared bulk carrier for illegally anchoring in Batu Pahat waters

Biofuel

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

Bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier “Berge Lyngor”, which was bunkered in Singapore in early May.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

BHP and GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 bio bunker fuel on bulk carrier

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) on Wednesday (3 June) said they have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 percent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 3 June, 2026

Biofuel

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

NYK starts one-year B100 bio bunker fuel trial on car carrier

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (2 June) said it has commenced a one-year long-term trial involving the continuous use of 100% biofuel (B100) on an NYK-operated car carrier.

In this trial, NYK will operate a car carrier continuously on B100 for one year to evaluate the impact on engines, fuel supply systems, and operational practices. High-purity biofuels such as B100 are known to be susceptible to degradation from oxygen, light, and heat, raising concerns about the stability of such fuels during long-term use.

In this trial, the biofuel primarily comprises FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) derived from used cooking oil and similar feedstocks.

The initiative is designed to evaluate the fuel’s effects on the vessel’s equipment and verify operational safety under real-world conditions.

Through this effort, NYK seeks to accumulate technical expertise that will support the broader use of high-purity biofuels and further accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

NYK has been advancing the use of biofuels through various initiatives. In 2024, the company conducted a trial using biofuel blend B24 and subsequently expanded practical usage to B30. However, the company said there remains limited global experience with the long-term continuous use of B100.

“By collecting long-term operational data through this trial, NYK aims to accumulate valuable technical insights to support both the safe operation of vessels and the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels,” it said.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 3 June, 2026

Ammonia

AM Green plans to build green ammonia plant at Indian port

Initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes, says VOC Port Authority.

Published

17 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority on Friday (29 May) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s ammonia producer AM Green Ammonia to collaborate in the development of a green ammonia production plant.

The plant will have a capacity of one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at Tuticorin.

The initiative also includes development of green ammonia handling, storage and bunkering infrastructure, pilot bunkering operations, safety procedures and training programmes.

The project is expected to support the development of green fuel corridors connecting VOC Port with major ports in Europe and Asia, thereby strengthening India’s position in the global green fuels value chain.

VOC Port also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd., to collaborate on Green Port certification, emissions accounting, ESG reporting, safety validation, development of green bunkering practices, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for green fuels and sustainability.

The port also plans for an upcoming 750 m³ green methanol bunkering facility.

Photo credit: Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash
Published: 3 June, 2026