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Bunkering Services Initiative marks start of operations across ARA region

Minerva Bunkering has teamed up with others such as bp Marine, Cargill, Frontline, Hafnia, Hapag‑Lloyd, Mercuria, Trafigura and TFG Marine to introduce a new gold standard of bunkering operations.

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Bunkering Services Initiative marks start of operations across ARA region

A group of leading companies officially launched the Bunkering Services Initiative (Initiative) across Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) ports with operations having been conducted since 1 December, according to Minerva Bunkering on Monday (15 December). 

The Initiative was first announced in July with shipping and bunkering companies teaming up to solve the widely reported issues of fuel quantity shortages and fuel quality opacity across the marine fuel supply chain.

The Initiative, which is voluntary and open to any third party, introduces a new gold standard of bunkering operations with technology-enabled, verifiable, and traceable insights into fuel quantity and quality to bring greater transparency and efficiency to participating companies and to help address long-standing problems across the industry.

Founding participants, from both the buying and supplying sides of the ARA bunker market, together account for a meaningful share of activity in the region and include: bp Marine, Cargill, Frontline, Hafnia, Hapag‑Lloyd, Mercuria, Minerva Bunkering, Oldendorff, Trafigura, TFG Marine, Unifeeder, and Vitol, as well as other significant industry players. 

Lloyd’s Register will act as system auditor carrying out checks on barges, while ADP Clear Pte Ltd will be its technology partner for multi-party workflows, real-time reporting and verifiable performance metrics.

The launch ceremony, which took place at the headquarters of Lloyd’s Register (LR) in London, marked the start of operations for a system designed to deliver “unprecedented levels” of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in one of the world’s largest marine fuel hubs. 

It was attended by representatives from the founding companies, new participants, port authorities, and other industry stakeholders, demonstrating the scale and significance of this uniquely cross-industry and collaborative approach.

Following its unveiling in July, the Initiative’s supplier participants have onboarded bunker barges, installed Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled hardware, and had crew trained in the Initiative’s protocols and mass flow meter (MFM) operational best practices.

All bunker barges have certified MFMs installed and integrated with ADP Clear’s hardware and software to allow seamless, real-time data capture. 

Every vessel has met LR’s qualification requirements and will remain subject to unannounced compliance inspections of the MFM system, piping, and seals.

The major fuel testing companies are providing laboratory results directly into the platform providing buyers with visibility into fuel quality from every sample drawn from each parcel of fuel from shore tank through final delivery, as required by the BSI standards.

Note: Any marine fuel buyers and suppliers engaged in the ARA market and interested in participating in the Initiative can direct their inquiries to [email protected]. 

Related: Bunkering, shipping companies unite in self-regulated initiative to solve ARA marine fuel issues

 

Photo credit: Minerva Bunkering
Published: 16 December, 2025

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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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July 21, 2026

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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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July 21, 2026

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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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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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July 21, 2026

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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