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ElbOil at 15: Marine fuel trader reflects on expansion and energy transition in bunkering

Founder and CEO Harro Booth says the company’s development mirrors the transformation of the bunker sector itself.

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ElbOil at 15: Marine fuel trader reflects on expansion and energy transition in bunkering

Marine fuel trader ElbOil on Tuesday (10 March) announced that the company is marking its 15th anniversary this year, reflecting on a period of steady international expansion and growing involvement in the maritime energy transition.

Founded in Hamburg in March 2011, the company started as a specialist broker and trader for marine fuels. Over the past decade and a half, ElbOil has expanded into a global network with offices in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, serving shipowners and operators along major shipping routes.

Key milestones include the creation of ElbOil Trading AG in Zug, Switzerland (2014) and the opening of offices in London (2016), Singapore (2020), Dubai (2021) and Shanghai (2024). In parallel, the company launched 4seee in 2019, a data-driven platform designed to analyse bunker markets and improve price forecasting.

Today the group works with more than 200 suppliers worldwide and has supplied over 15,000 vessels across global bunkering hubs and handles around 2 million tonnes of marine fuels per year. Founder and CEO Harro Booth said the company’s development mirrors the transformation of the bunker sector itself.

“When we started ElbOil in 2011, the bunker market was far more predictable than it is today. Over the last fifteen years, geopolitics, regulation and market volatility have fundamentally changed the environment in which shipping companies operate.”

Those changes have accelerated in recent years as shipowners face pressure from decarbonisation policies and new regulatory frameworks such as the EU emissions trading system for maritime transport.

“Decarbonisation is clearly shaping the future of marine fuels, but the transition is complex. Shipowners are navigating questions around fuel availability, infrastructure and cost, and traders have to support that process with practical solutions.”

ElbOil has responded by expanding into biofuels trading, digital market tools and sustainability-linked initiatives. Since 2020 the company has been certified under both REDcert and ISCC Plus, internationally recognised sustainability certification schemes for biofuels and biomass supply chains. The company has also invested in projects related to alternative fuels, carbon management and ecosystem restoration, reflecting a broader shift in the industry toward lower-emission energy sources.

Despite the increasing role of technology and data analytics, Booth believes that bunker trading remains a relationship-driven business.

“Digital tools can improve transparency and timing, but shipping is still a people industry. Experience, trust and judgement remain essential when markets become volatile or disputes arise.” 

Looking ahead, ElbOil expects the coming decade to bring further structural change to the maritime fuel market, particularly as alternative fuels gradually gain scale.

“Shipping has always adapted to new energy realities,” Booth said. “The challenge for the industry now is to manage that transition without losing efficiency or reliability in global trade.”

Related: Interview: ElbOil highlights growth, sustainability, and the human touch in marine fuels
Related: ElbOil Group adds green methanol to marine fuels product portfolio with latest China deal
Related: ElbOil celebrates sixth year of operations in Singapore with new local office

 

Photo credit: ElbOil
Published: 12 March, 2026

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Hong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands ops with new Shanghai branch office

The HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist E-Marine’s head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China.

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E Marine Shanghai office front

Hong Kong-based marine fuel and lubricant trading company Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service Corporation Limited (E-Marine) on April 15 launched a branch office in Shanghai, learned Manifold Times.

The company HONG KONG E-MARINE SHANGHAI BRANCH will assist the head office in handling bunker trading operations and increase overall bonded bunker trading volumes at China, Managing Director Darcy Wang told the bunkering publication.

“The Shanghai office serves as our China business support and coordination centre. It enables us to stay close to our customers, suppliers and business partners, while also providing access to a deep pool of industry talent,” he shared.

This development is in line the target to significantly increase our annual bonded bunkering portfolio in China to 1 million metric tonnes (mt) by 2030.

“As we continue to expand our presence in China, we welcome capable and motivated individuals who share our long-term vision to join our Shanghai office.”

E-Marine’s new Shanghai office address is as follows:

Shanghai Xuhui District
Chang Ning Road No.889
Shanghai Yang Guang Bin Jiang Center
Unit 22-13

Candidates interested in growing together with E-Marine are invited to send their CV or profile to [email protected].

E Marine Shanghai office tea cups

Related: E-Marine raising China bonded bunker trading portfolio to 1 million mt by 2030, seeks talents
RelatedHong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine obtains ISCC EU certification
RelatedHong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine introduces Global Sales & Procurement Manager
RelatedHong Kong-based bunker trading firm E-Marine expands operations with Singapore branch
RelatedBunker and lube trading firm Hongkong E-Marine Supply Service to open Singapore branch by June

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 4 June 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Axpo, Carnival Corporation conduct Naples’ first LNG bunkering operation of cruise ship

LNG bunkering tanker “Green Zeebrugge” supplied LNG to “Sun Princess”, operated by Princess Cruises, at the Port of Naples on 24 May, according to Axpo.

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Axpo, Carnival Corporation conduct Naples’ first LNG bunkering operation of cruise ship

Switzerland’s energy producer Axpo on Tuesday (26 May) said it has successfully completed the first LNG bunkering of a cruise ship in Naples, Italy, it was announced today. 

The ship-to-ship bunkering operation of the Sun Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, took place on 24 May.

The operation at the Port of Naples, was performed using the LNG bunkering tanker Green Zeebrugge, previously deployed in the Port of Genoa. 

The transfer of LNG to the cruise ship Sun Princess represented a key step in the expansion of LNG in the maritime sector, thereby supporting emission reduction efforts within this industry.

Axpo’s Head of Small-Scale LNG Daniele Corti, said: “This operation is further demonstration that an alternative fuel infrastructure is truly up and running. When industry partners collaborate towards a common goal, Europe’s shipping industry makes real progress towards lowering emissions. I’d like to thank the local authorities and Carnival Corporation for enabling this significant milestone.”

“This milestone marks important progress for Carnival Corporation as we continue expanding the use of LNG across our world-class cruise lines including Princess Cruises,” said John Haeflinger, senior vice president, maritime policy and analysis, Carnival Corporation. “Advancing access to alternative fuels in key ports is essential to supporting our efforts to reduce emissions, and this milestone reflects the power of collaboration across our industry.

The successful operation is the result of close collaboration between Axpo, the Port System Authority of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Terminal Napoli, and the Port Authority of Naples, which coordinated operational and regulatory activities related to the bunkering operation.

 

Photo credit: Axpo
Published: 29 May, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore-based PIL completes first LNG bunkering op in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port

“Kota Ocean” took on about 4,300 cubic metres of LNG during a simultaneous LNG bunkering and cargo operations at Mingdong Terminal.

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Singapore-based PIL completes first LNG bunkering op in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port

Singapore-based container operator Pacific International Lines (PIL) on Monday (25 May) said its vessel Kota Ocean successfully completed a simultaneous LNG bunkering and cargo operations at Mingdong Terminal in Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port.

The operation, held from 4 to 5 May, marked both PIL’s first LNG bunkering operation at the port and the terminal’s first ever LNG operation — a strong step forward in advancing green shipping with the Port of Shanghai.

Kota Ocean took on about 4,300 cubic metres (m3) of LNG with SIPG Energy, with support from the Pudong and Wusong Maritime Safety Administrations. 

“Through close coordination with SIPG Energy and the terminal, our team in Shanghai ensured that cargo operations and LNG bunkering proceeded in parallel — safely, efficiently, and without disruption,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Ocean, one of PIL’s eight LNG dual-fuel vessels, is testament to our commitment towards fleet modernisation and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.” 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 28 May, 2026

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