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ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (11 Jan 2024)

Availability tight in NOLA; VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Balboa; Bad weather hinders Zona Comun bunkering.

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RESIZED ENGINE Americas

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 in NOLA
  • VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Balboa
  • Bad weather hinders Zona Comun bunkering

North America

Houston’s bunker fuel demand has remained good this week. Availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO has been tight, and some suppliers can only deliver them with a lead time of seven days. Prompt HSFO supply is also tight and lead times of more than 10 days are recommended for the grade.

Bunker demand for delivery dates in the first week of February has also increased, and most suppliers are able to offer stems for the enquired dates.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is now available with a few suppliers in Bolivar Roads and Beaumont. However, bunker deliveries there remain subject to weather conditions, a source says.

A moderate to high risk of fog and reduced visibility is forecast around Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Port Arthur, Galveston and Freeport on Thursday, which could delay vessel traffic around the region and through the Houston Ship Channel, a source says.

Bunkering was proceeding normally in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) on Thursday morning. However, there are forecasts of strong wind gusts of up to 55 knots expected by Thursday evening, which could potentially impact bunkering in the lightering area.

Securing fuel grades can be difficult in GOLA, particularly HSFO, due to recent intermittent weather suspensions in the region.

Securing both prompt and non-prompt VLSFO and LSMGO stems is getting tighter at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) with an uptick in demand in the region. Some suppliers are unable to provide an exact date for when they will have the stems available.

All grades remain tight for prompt delivery dates in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. However, demand has also remained low in the ports.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has been good in the East Coast port of New York. Both grades can be secured within 3-4 days of lead time.

Caribbean and Latin America

Demand for all fuel grades have remained low in Panama’s ports of Balboa and Cristobal so far this week amid the ongoing drought-triggered restrictions. Availability has been very good for VLSFO and LSMGO, and most suppliers can offer stems within 3-4 days in Balboa. HSFO can be secured with a lead time of about seven days.

Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO supply is available off Trinidad, but these offers are generally quoted on a subject to enquiry basis, a source says.

Bunker operations have been suspended in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage since Wednesday due to strong wind gusts. Rough weather conditions are forecast until Saturday, which could keep bunkering suspended there.

Availability of both VLSFO and LSMGO has been tight in Zona Comun this week.

 Prompt VLSFO and LSMGO availability is getting tighter in the Brazilian port of Rio Grande. One supplier needs at least seven days to deliver these fuels, while the earliest delivery date for two other suppliers is 25 January.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 12 January, 2024

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Technology

Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform, with Ocean Network Express as its first buyer-side integration partner.

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Singapore: Ofiniti, ONE trial direct platform integration to streamline bunker workflows

Ofiniti, the digital platform for maritime fuel operations, on Tuesday (21 July) said it has started a trial in Singapore, integrating FuelBoss directly with a bunker buyer’s own platform.

The company announced Singapore-headquartered container shipping firm Ocean Network Express (ONE) as its first buyer-side integration partner. 

“It is no coincidence we start in Singapore, as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains at the forefront of digitalisation of all things bunkering,” the company said in a social media post.

In November 2023, MPA launched its digital bunkering platform, becoming the world’s first port to implement e-BDN. 

Ofiniti said every bunker delivery still runs on retyped data. 

“The buyer’s system says one thing, the supplier says another, and someone reconciles the gap by email, phone, or PDF. On every stem,” the company said. 

“We built FuelBoss to change this reality.”

With the integration, operational data now flows without manual re-entry, fewer reconciliation errors and faster processing and data, instead of documents, are readily available for procurement and claims workflows. 

“One connection will not transform the industry on its own, but digitalisation gets built one integration at a time. We are grateful to ONE for being willing to go first,” Ofiniti added.

Manifold Times previously reported ONE completing its successful trial of the electronic Bunker Delivery Note (e-BDN) with Shell. 

The e-BDN trial, using the digital bunkering solution developed by Angsana Technology, was conducted on 9 September 2023 at the Port of Singapore, with support from the MPA.

In March 2025, Ofiniti acquired Singapore-based Angsana Technology, with the entire Angsana team joining Ofiniti as part of the acquisition.

Related: MPA Chief Executive: Port of Singapore begins digital bunkering initiative today
Related: Singapore set to become first port in the world to debut electronic bunker delivery notes
Related: ONE completes e-BDN adoption trial with Shell in Port of Singapore
Related: Ofiniti acquires Singapore-based Angsana Technology to advance digital bunkering solutions

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 22 July, 2026

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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.

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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

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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