SIBCON 2024: Oldendorff, Peninsula discuss uptake of traditional bunker fuels, risk management

Representatives of bulk shipowner Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG. and bunkering firm Peninsula, amongst others, met at the Fuel Oil Markets – Projections and Supply Chain Resilience panel discussion session during the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON 2024).

Topics discussed included the increased uptake of traditional marine fuels and importance of robust risk management.

Jens Maul Jørgensen, Director of Bunkers, Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG, noted the dry bulk segment to be welcoming more than a thousand newbuildings within the next three years. Data from shipyards have indicated most of these vessels, especially the bigger ones, having scrubbers onboard.

“The majority of the orderbook today, in all segments, is not dual fuel mainly due to costs. We cannot run away from that; the vessel need fuel to sail,” he explained.

Meanwhile, areas such as the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) region have seen even more high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) than LSFO supplied every month, which shows demand for traditional HSFO to be increasing. 

New Emission Control Areas (ECAs) such as the Mediterranean Sea ECA taking effect from 1 May 2025 will also mean more consumption of low sulphur bunker products.

Jørgensen, who is responsible for purchase bunker fuels for approximately 750 bulk carriers, next highlighted the importance of managing proper exposure control due to fluctuating oil prices.

“If we don’t hedge, we speculate. We must make sure that the prices are safe as nobody can predict what is going on in six months. Being in a open position will be a big risk, especially in this market, so proper exposure control is the key.”

Kenny MacLean, Chief Operating Officer, Peninsula agreed with Jørgensen approach towards managing risk.

“It’s the same story, but we’re buying bulk, and so it’s progressively even more important. I think the bunker industry in general has had a bit of a checkered past with companies that haven’t paid too much attention to their risk management,” shared MacLean.

“That’s something that Peninsula is absolutely laser focused on. So obviously, all our purchases are hedged and that’s of critical importance. 

“Other areas that are super important is making sure that you’re getting economies of scale out of the purchases as well. But really, it’s that hedging, derivatives, price risk management side that’s of critical importance in our industry in general.”

Concurring with Jørgensen’s observation of high consumption of low sulphur bunker products such as marine gas oil (MGO) within ECAs, MacLean added the similar regions have also been driving the increased use of biofuels. 

“What we try to do is have a very diverse customer base, and our supply decisions are pretty much based around aggregating that customer demand by being a bit more customer centric and really getting into our customers and asking, ‘What are the solutions that you’re going to need?’” he said.

“It’s our job as a bunker supplier to aggregate that fuel together and make sure that we can make it available in the right place at the right time, otherwise, you’re going to be left just with a few very large bunkering hubs around the world. 

“It’s incumbent upon bunker suppliers like Peninsula to make sure that if it’s in the Mediterranean we’ve got the full range of products available so that when Jens knocks and says, ‘Actually, I’d quite like some biofuel guys’ we are there with the solutions ready and available.”

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 17 October 2024