Editor’s note: Mawei Marine Bunker Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. has been corrected to Helios Marine Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. and C &D Clean Energy has been corrected to Zhejiang C & D Energy Resources Co., Ltd. 

Zhoushan Marine Fuel Association on Tuesday (2 January) said Zhoushan achieved 7.05 million metric tonnes (mt) of bonded bunkering volume in 2023, exceeding the bonded bunkering volume of 6 million mt in the previous year. 

The association said this meant Zhoushan registered a 16.95% on year increase, firmly placing it at the top spot of bunkering ports in China and gradually narrowing its gap with Fujairah, the world’s third largest refuelling port.

The association said the achievement is largely due to Zhoushan’s consistent focus on developing the entire bunkering industry, its persistence in reform, innovation in response to market demand and its proactive efforts to improve. 

“Since last year, we have focused on continuous efforts in areas such as new bunker fuels, hardware facilities, digital supervision, and price systems,” it said. 

One of the major areas of development in the area include expanding its categories of bunkering including implementing the country’s first offshore anchorage LNG bunkering and first anchorage container ship biofuel bunkering. 

“Zhoushan has become the first port in the country that has the capabilities to refuel multiple types of bunker fuels,” it added.

Another step Zhoushan took was to extend the bunkering operation time period for ships in Xiu Shandong Anchorage and improve the anchorage’s bunkering efficiency. Last year, the bunker fuel supply volume of Xiu Shandong Anchorage reached 722,700 mt, a year-on-year increase of 115%. At present, there are more than 20 anchorages in the five major bunker fuel supply anchorages in Zhoushan, forming a south-central-north connection layout. 

The Xiazhimen North, Mazhi, and Xiushan East anchorages can provide bunkering operations at night. 

The association stated that a total of 59 whitelisted bunkering vessels with higher standards were approved , of which a total of nine “Zhoushan ship type” bunkering vessels were put into operation.

The first ship of the “Zhoushan ship type” version 2.0 was also launched recently with it setting sail for its maiden voyage. The upgraded ship type has significant improvement to its wind and wave resistance compared to the previous version. The version 2.0 ship type has the ability to supply oil under higher wave height conditions in outer anchorages.

Zhoushan also added new functions to the “International Bunkering Intelligent Supervision Service System” such as new bunker declaration and auxiliary supervision for border inspection while the “Ship Oil Supply and Security” system has been put into operation to ensure offshore bunkering anchorage space optimization with sensorless remote supervision.

The association also said new bunker players have entered Zhoushan including Zhejiang C & D Energy Resources Co., Ltd, Hengli Petrochemical, and Helios Marine Fuel (Zhoushan) Co., Ltd. forming a diversified competitive market of state-owned, private, and foreign capital.

“The total number of bunker fuel supply companies in Zhoushan has reached 19. In 2023, Zhoushan licensed companies added 3.1839 million mt of bunker fuel, a year-on-year increase of 24.77%,” it said.

Lastly, the association stated Zhoushan took the initiative to launch “China Zhoushan Low-Sulphur and High-Sulphur Fuel Oil Bonded Ship Supply Quotation”, “Zhoushan Oil Storage Comprehensive Price Index” and “Zhejiang Liquefied Natural Gas Spot Price” as benchmarks for the country’s bonded bunker fuel market prices. 

Related: China launches version 2.0 of “Zhoushan ship type” bunkering vessel
Related: China officially launches Zhoushan Bonded Fuel Oil Index System with ‘Buyer’s Quotation’
Related: China: Zhoushan port digitalises bunker fuel, oil product storage availability info
Related: Zhoushan and Ningbo authorities update bonded bunkering procedure document for shipowners
Related: Zhoushan port launches bunkering operations at Qushan temporary anchorage

Disclaimer: The above article published by Manifold Times was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. While considerable efforts have been taken to verify its accuracy through a professional translator and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty is made regarding the accuracy, completeness and reliability of any information.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 8 January, 2024