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Argus Media: Singapore bunkering market eyes MFM magnet use

Singapore bunker market participants have not seen any major impact on the market from the practice.

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Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media on Tuesday (19 March) provided an industry update regarding the alleged use of magnets by a minority of players to influence MFM readings in the Singapore bunkering market:

Singapore bunker market participants are watching the use of magnets to manipulate mass flow meter (MFM) readings in the port, but so far see no major impact on the market from the practice.

Shipowners have been aware of magnet use since Singapore made MFMs mandatory in 2017, but the issue has gained wider prominence in recent days after photographic evidence of such a device apparently being used was circulated by a surveyor last week.

Sporadic evidence indicates magnets are being used in some isolated cases, with some buyers wary that they might be used on a larger scale.

Magnets can be attached to a MFM to manipulate flow measurements. Barge operators can potentially save an estimated 10-15t of fuel when delivering a 2,000t stem.

Buyers are largely unconcerned. "We will exercise caution but we do not think magnets are a very effective manipulation tool," one buyer said.

"The use of a magnet could lead to either a gain or a loss [in fuel readings], with odds being 50-50," another market participant said. And not all types of MFMs are susceptible to the effects of a magnet.

Physical suppliers are more concerned about the reputational impact of the practice. Tampering with MFMs by a small number of operators could damage the integrity of the large majority of participants in Singapore who play by the rules, they said.

Owners are aware of the issue and are applying stricter controls, with prevention methods in place that are covered by the Supplier Guidelines and Surveyor Instructions. Surveyors must report suspicions of magnet use to the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), in accordance with the Singapore Technical Reference for Bunker Mass Flow Metering (TR48:2015).

Singapore, the world's biggest bunker port, is currently the only port that mandates the use of MFMs for all deliveries of bunker fuel oil. The MPA will extend the requirement to all marine gasoil bunker operations from 1 July 2019.

An increasing number of suppliers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Fujairah are operating MFM-equipped barges following the successful adoption of the technology in Singapore.

Source: Argus Media
Published: 20 March, 2019

 

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Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine installs first ISO-certified mass flow meter on US Gulf bunkering barge

Aims to equip 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026.

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TFG Marine installs first MFM MT

TFG Marine on Friday (11 July) said it has reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant mass flow meter (MFM) on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

This is the first ISO-certified MFM-equipped bunkering barge operating in the US Gulf, setting a new benchmark for transparency, accuracy and operational efficiency in marine fuel delivery across the region, it notes.

The installation is part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

“Our continued investment in mass flow meter technology underlines our commitment to leading the modernisation of marine fuel supply chains,” said Kenneth Dam, Global Head of Bunkering at TFG Marine.

“I’m proud that more than 60% of our barge fleet already deploys mass flow meters, and we continue to build on this.

“By ensuring greater accuracy in delivered quantities and eliminating manual measurement discrepancies, we’re helping to create a more transparent, reliable and efficient bunkering process for shipowners and operators globally.”

 

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 14 July 2025

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Technology

Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain prepared for end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN integration ops in 2025

Entities showcased their complete solution to delegates during the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition.

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E+H eBDN

Swiss-based mass flowmeter (MFM) manufacturer Endress+Hauser and digital bunkering solutions provider Bunkerchain is preparing their systems in advance for seamless digital bunkering transactions of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s pioneering electronic bunker delivery note (e-BDN) project, learned Manifold Times.

During the 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON 2024), spokesmen from Endress+Hauser and Bunkerchain explained to delegates how their systems work in unison to prepare for the upgrade.

“At SIBCON 2024, we showed our digital bunkering solution together with Bunkerchain, one of our partners for e-BDN,” said Mohamed Abdenbi, Global Business Manager Solutions, Endress+Hauser.

“As soon as a bunker operation is completed, our MFM system automatically transmits ticket data to the bunker app of Bunkerchain for e-BDN documentation.

“With this set up we are ready to support end-to-end digital transactions of e-BDN in Singapore.”

According to Mr Abdenbi, full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port will further significantly increase the efficiency to the republic’s bunker industry due to automation and the likelihood of wrong data filled into bunker checklists being reduced to a minimum.

“Data can be easily shared between the different parties to make daily workflows more efficient. This will have a positive effect on productivity of the bunker industry,” he explained.

“We can confirm this when looking at our own Endress+Hauser paperless production processes and the response of our customers who make use of our Netilion* cloud offering.

“Inconsistent data along the different system components would raise questions and doubts.

“Therefore, we believe it is of great importances the MFM vendor offers a complete and interoperable system for data transmission to ensure necessary integrity of data to make life easy for MFM users and authorities by having a central contact.”

FMS Digital Bunkering Solution 03c page 0001

Leon Ling, CEO of Bunkerchain, echoed Mr Abdenbi’s thoughts.

“At SIBCON 2024, Bunkerchain showcased direct connectivity between Endress+Hauser’s MFM system and our e-BDN solution,” he shared.

“This setup enabled seamless data transfer from the MFM to our e-BDN system onboard vessels, even without internet connectivity. This innovation ensures critical bunker data is securely captured and processed in real-time, paving the way for full digitalisation of e-BDN implementation at Singapore port in 2025.”

Use of MFMs, combined with solutions such as e-BDN, streamline workflows by automating data capture to reduce manual errors for secured real-time data sharing among stakeholders, he noted.

These advancements enhance operational accuracy, improve compliance, and establish a robust framework for efficient and sustainable bunker operations.

Global Energy Trading Pte Ltd (GET), the trading arm of Singapore bunker supplier Global Energy Group, earlier announced the successful implementation of Bunkerchain’s e-BDN system.

During Singapore Maritime Week 2024, Bunkerchain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with S&P Global Market Intelligence and MPA to pilot the use of digital ship identity in the republic.

*Netilion is a cloud-based IIoT ecosystem designed by Endress+Hauser for industrial processes. It connects the physical and digital worlds to send information from the field straight to the user’s phone, tablet or other device. 

Related: Global Energy Trading selects Bunkerchain e-BDN solution in Singapore
Related: SMW 2024: MPA partners with S&P Global and Bunkerchain in digital ship identity

 

Photo credit: Endress+Hauser
Published: 13 May, 2025

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Methanol

Singapore: Golden Island to start green methanol bunkering trials with IMO type 2 newbuilding

“Golden Antares” is scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by end April; it will lift green methanol cargo from China back to Singapore.

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RESIZED GOLDEN ISLAND

Singapore bunker supplier Golden Island Pte Ltd is planning to start bunkering trials of green methanol with its newbuild Singapore-flagged 7,999 dwt IMO type 2 bunker tanker from July, learns Manifold Times.

“The Golden Antares is scheduled to depart a Chinese shipyard by end April,” shared Tomohiro Yamano, General Manager, Marine Fuel Department.

“We are planning for it to lift the product from Towngas (Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited) which has obtained ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications for green methanol before sailing back with the cargo to Singapore for bunkering trials.”

“We are also working together with Mitsubishi Corporation to purchase green methanol from them.

“With the above steps in place, we ensure green methanol marine fuel provided by Golden Island offers Carbon Intensity (CI) savings of more than 75% when compared against the CI of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) material.”

Yamano-san noted the mass flowmeter (MFM) equipped newbuilding has a 6,500 metric tonne (mt) carrying capacity for methanol.

The cargo will be deposited to a Stolthaven Singapore operated terminal prior to the start of MFM trials in July.

“Singapore’s maritime sector is rapidly evolving and improving to keep up with the times,” he said.

“In late 2023, Golden Island became the first Singapore bunker supplier to adopt 100% e-BDN operations. We were also pioneers to test B30 product in the same year.

“Now, we want to promote change towards sustainable shipping by being amongst the first bunker suppliers to offer a green methanol marine fuel package for receiving vessels lifting bunkers at the republic.”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), through the Singapore Standards Council (SSC), on 10 March published a new Technical Reference (TR) 129 on Methanol Bunkering to provide a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient use of methanol as an alternative fuel for bunkering operations.

Yamano-san confirmed green methanol marine fuel supplied by the company will adhere to protocols set by TR 129.

MPA has also recently opened applications for licences to supply methanol as a marine fuel in Singapore. This follows the finalisation of Singapore’s methanol bunkering licensing framework and standards, which incorporated input from over 50 proposals received under MPA’s Expression of Interest (EOI) launched in December 2023, as well as methanol bunkering trials and operations conducted in Singapore since 2023.

Related: Golden Island to start methanol bunkering operations at republic by 2026
Related: Golden Island switching to 100% e-BDN operations from 1 December
Related: Golden Island begins fleetwide B30 biofuel bunker trial, starts tests with “Double Happiness”
Related: SMW 2025: MPA seeks methanol bunker supplier licence applications in Singapore
Related: SMW 2025: MPA reveals key requirements for methanol bunkering licence
Related: Singapore releases new standard on methanol bunkering, gears up for multi-fuel future
Related: MPA: Due diligence carried out prior to recent Singapore methanol bunkering pilot
Related: MPA issues EOI seeking for methanol bunker fuel suppliers in Singapore
Related: MPA receives 50 submissions for EOI to supply methanol bunker fuel in Singapore
Related: Singapore bunkering sector enters milestone with first methanol marine refuelling op
Related: First SIMOPS methanol bunkering operation completed in Singapore

 

Photo credit: Golden Island
Published: 2 April 2025

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