K Shipbuilding and Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Monday (14 September) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop an ethanol-fuelled 50,000 dwt Medium Range (MR) tanker.

Announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, the joint development project will assess the technical feasibility, safety and regulatory compliance of a new ethanol-fuelled tanker design, with the objective of achieving Approval in Principle (AiP) from LR and creating a commercially competitive vessel concept for the global product tanker market.

LR will undertake technical reviews covering vessel arrangements, stability, structural requirements and fuel tank integration, while K Shipbuilding will lead the vessel design and development programme.

The project will also examine opportunities to optimise vessel design and operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with applicable class rules and international regulations.

Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for tankers, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Ethanol is already a familiar cargo across the product tanker trades, which makes the MR segment a practical place to assess it as a fuel. As ethanol production and seaborne trade continue to develop, owners active in these trades are well placed to connect its role as a cargo with its use onboard.

“This project will give owners a clearer basis for evaluating ethanol within their fleet strategies, and help lay the groundwork for its broader uptake across the tanker sector.”

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Shipping’s energy transition is unlikely to be delivered through a single fuel solution. Shipowners are increasingly looking at a range of fuel options and want confidence that emerging technologies can be implemented safely, efficiently and in compliance with evolving regulations.

“This project will help deepen industry understanding of ethanol’s potential in the tanker sector and provide owners with greater insight into how alternative fuel solutions can be incorporated into commercially viable vessel designs.”

Tae-Hyun Koh, Chief Technology Officer, K Shipbuilding, said: “We see growing interest in fuel flexibility as shipowners make long-term investment decisions in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Through this collaboration with Lloyd’s Register, we aim to develop a practical and competitive ethanol-fuelled MR tanker design that addresses both operational and market requirements.”

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 16 September, 2026

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port fell by 4% on year in August 2026, according to data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

In total, 4.77 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,772,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in August, up from 4.97 million mt (4,965,300 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2025.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in August (against on year) recorded respectively 2.1 million mt (11.1% from 1.89 million mt), 2.19 million mt (-12.4% from 2.50 million mt), zero (from zero), zero (-100% from 1,800 mt) and zero (from zero).

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in August, (against on year) recorded respectively 8,700 mt (-74.9% from 34,700 mt), 47,900 mt (-48.9% from 93,800 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February last year, recorded 800 mt (-83.3% from 4,800 mt). 

LNG and methanol sales were 58,600 mt (-12.5% from 67,000 mt) and zero (from zero) respectively. There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far since 2025.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 September, 2026

Once a week, bunker intelligence platform ENGINE will publish a snapshot of alternative and conventional bunker fuel prices in the world’s two biggest bunkering hubs. The following is the latest snapshot:

14 September 2026

• B30-LSMGO swings to $37/mt discount to LNG (Otto MS)
• Singapore LNG (diesel SS) discount to LSMGO widens
• ZRE A tickets surge on aggressive compliance buying

Rotterdam’s B30-LSMGO has swung from a $90/mt premium over LNG burnt in Otto medium speed (Otto MS) engines to a $37/mt discount, as LNG has gained $150/mt over the past week against the blend’s $24/mt.

Liquefied biomethane’s (LBM) premiums over HSFO in Rotterdam have widened by $105-107/mt to $348-487/mt depending on engine type, and over VLSFO by $90-92/mt to $233-372/mt.

LBM’s discounts to LSMGO have narrowed by $6-8/mt to $261-400/mt. Its premiums over B100 have widened by $84-86/mt to $271-411/mt.

Rotterdam’s LNG premiums over VLSFO have widened by $95-97/mt to $356-492/mt depending on engine type, and LNG’s discounts to LSMGO have narrowed by $11-13/mt to $141-277/mt.

In Singapore, LNG’s premiums over VLSFO have narrowed by $1-2/mt to $255-323/mt, and its discounts to LSMGO have widened by $85-86/mt to $88-155/mt. The wider discount is for vessels with diesel slow speed (diesel SS) engines.

B100’s premium over HSFO in Rotterdam has widened by $21/mt to $76/mt while its discount to VLSFO has narrowed by $6/mt to $39/mt. Its discount to LSMGO has widened by $78/mt to $672/mt.

Singapore’s B100 has widened its premium over VLSFO by $14/mt to $280/mt and its discount to LSMGO by $70/mt to $130/mt.

ENGINE-assessed FuelEU Maritime pooling values have eased by $1/mt for both B100 and LBM, the smaller credits adding to each fuel’s gains, while the OceanScore FuelEU pooling index has held at €118.90/mtCO2e ($138/mtCO2e).

Liquid fuels

Rotterdam’s conventional fuel prices have gained $38-137/mt over the past week, with LSMGO up the most and its benchmark at the highest level in at least four years.

B100 has gained $59/mt and B30-VLSFO $64/mt.

Dutch ZRE A tickets have moved up by €21/mtCO2e ($24/mtCO2e) to €200/mtCO2e ($232/mtCO2e) over the past week. Compliance buyers rather than speculators have driven the increase, Prima Markets analyst Ulrich Arnheiter said.

Conventional bunker fuel availability in the ARA is tight for prompt deliveries, with lead times of 5-7 days advised for most grades, a trader said.

Singapore’s conventional fuel prices have gained $49-133/mt, again with LSMGO up the most, and B100 has gained $63/mt.

Supply in Singapore has remained constrained despite subdued demand, with VLSFO lead times of 12-15 days against 9-16 days a week earlier.

Front-month ICE Brent futures have rallied $10.53/bbl ($77/mt) higher to $108.72/bbl ($797/mt), lifted by vessel attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia halting flows through its East-West Pipeline. Dec26 EUA prices have risen by $2.99/mtCO2e to $102.47/mtCO2e.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG prices have gained $148-150/mt depending on engine type over the past week, and the port’s LBM prices $143-145/mt, tracking a sharp rise in the front-month Dutch TTF gas contract.

How long the Strait of Hormuz stays closed remains the single most important supply-side uncertainty, IEA gas analyst Greg Molnár said.

Rotterdam’s LBM discounts to LNG have widened by $5/mt to $119-124/mt depending on engine type.

Singapore’s LNG prices have gained $46-47/mt depending on engine type, tracking the front-month NYMEX Japan/Korea Marker.

LNG importers continue to seek cargoes with no resolution of the Middle East conflict in sight, ANZ Bank senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes said.

By Erik Hoffmann

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 September, 2026