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CTI-Maritec: Why accurate testing of energy content is essential for bio bunker fuels

Owing to the composition of bio-marine fuels, accurate measurement of NSE / Net Heat of Combustion to correctly gauge energy content of bio-marine fuels is key for efficient fuel management onboard ships.

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Marine environmental services and fuel testing solutions company CTI-Maritec on Wednesday (8 January) shared on why one of the most important testing parameters or properties of bio-marine fuel is energy content.

Owing to the composition of bio-marine fuels, the accurate measurement of Net Specific Energy (NSE) / Net Heat of Combustion to correctly gauge energy content of bio-marine fuels is key for efficient fuel management onboard ships: 

Introduction

Bio-marine fuel is widely adopted as a drop-in fuel to achieve the current emission requirements in the shipping industry. ISO 8217:2024 specification allows bio-marine fuels to contain up to 100% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The major production route of FAME is transesterification of vegetable oils, animal fats or used cooking oils with methanol using alkaline catalysts. The ISO 8217:2024 version has included additional test parameters to measure FAME content, energy content and oxidation stability for bio-marine fuels.

Accurate Net Specific Energy (NSE) assists with efficient fuel consumption management

In this newsletter article, we review why one of the most important testing parameter or property of bio-marine fuel is Energy Content. Accurate measurement of NSE for energy content of bio-marine fuels is essential for efficient fuel management onboard ships with respect to:

  • Fuel consumption
  • Voyage planning
  • Operating cost
  • Machineries or equipment performance
  • Emission & environmental implications

Why accurate testing of Energy Content is an essential test parameter for Bio-marine fuel

Marine fuel containing FAME typically has lower energy content compared to conventional marine fuels.

The heating value of a fuel is the total energy released as heat when a fuel undergoes complete combustion with oxygen under standard conditions. The chemical reaction is typically a hydrocarbon reacting with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, water and heat as shown in the equation below:

Hydrocarbon + Oxygen à Carbon Dioxide + Water + Heat Released

Conventionally, NSE of marine fuels (which consist of predominantly hydrocarbons from petroleum sources) is calculated using a formula specified in Annex of ISO 8217 (Annex J of ISO 8217:2024) with acceptable accuracy. For marine fuels containing FAME, the NSE cannot be calculated using the formula specified in Annex J of ISO 8217:2024 and shall be measured using ASTM D240 method. FAME molecules contain the Carbonyl group and Ester bonds as shown in Figure 1 below and do not consist purely of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Figure 1: An Ester of a Carboxylic Acid

Figure 1: An Ester of a Carboxylic Acid

The density of potential energy of a hydrocarbon is determined by the number of carbon to hydrogen bonds that can be replaced by oxygen to carbon (CO2) and oxygen to hydrogen bonds (H2O), in other words, the amount of energy released is dependent on the oxidation state of the carbons in the hydrocarbon. For marine fuel containing FAME, the FAME molecule itself contains oxygen atoms in the Carbonyl group and Ester bond. The Ester group of FAME has a carbon forming 3 bonds with oxygen atoms, this means esters are more oxidised than hydrocarbons and esters release less energy content when compared to hydrocarbon since higher oxidation reactions are needed for hydrocarbons.

The paragraphs above explain the reasons marine fuel containing FAME typically have lower energy content compared to conventional marine fuels, which consist of predominantly hydrocarbons and the calculated formula for NSE is not applicable to marine fuel containing FAME.

According to ASTM D240 test method, heat of combustion is determined by burning a weighed sample in an oxygen bomb calorimeter under controlled conditions. The heat of combustion is computed from temperature observations before, during, and after combustion, with proper allowance for thermochemical and heat transfer corrections. The average of gross specific energy (GSE) or gross heat of combustion, and NSE or net heat of combustion of MGO, VLSFO, HSFO and Bio-marine Fuels are tabulated in Table 1 below:

Why accurate testing of Energy Content (Net Heat of Combustion) is essential for Bio-Marine Fuels

Note: The average GSE and NSE for each of the fuel types was obtained from at least 50 samples.

Based on Table 1, bio-marine fuel B30 has 8% lower energy content when compared to MGO. The energy content of bio-marine fuel will become lower when the FAME content is higher.

Energy content of marine fuel containing FAME shall be determined by ASTM D240 method and cannot be calculated using the current NSE formula, which is commonly used for the conventional marine fuels.

Note: The full article by CTI-Maritec can be found here

 

Photo credit: Louis Reed from Unsplash
Published: 9 January, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

4.59 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024, according to MPA.

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Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 7.5% on year in June 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.59 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,594,700 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in June, up from 4.27 million mt (4,274,900 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+8.6% from 1.56 million mt), 2.31 million mt (-7.2% from 2.33 million mt), 1,900 mt (from zero), 4,500 mt (-88% from 8,000 mt) and zero (from zero).

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales soar by 7.5% on year in June 2025

Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in June (against on year) recorded respectively 38,800 mt (+671.7% from 2,500 mt), 114,300 mt (+97.9% from 45,400 mt), zero (from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). B100 biofuel bunkers, introduced in February this year, recorded 1,000 mt of deliveries in June.

LNG and methanol sales were respectively 55,400 mt (-7.8% from 51,700) and zero (from zero mt). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

Related: Singapore: Bunker sales volume raises to year record high of 4.88 million mt in May
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 0.5% on year in March 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 8.1% on year in February 2025
Related: Singapore: Bunker fuel sales down by 9.1% on year in January 2025

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes reported by Manifold Times tracked since 2018 can be found via the link here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 July 2025

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line, represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region; operation also included a simultaneous delivery of B30-HSFO.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers first B30-MGO bio bunker fuel blend supply in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (11 July) announced the first-ever delivery of a B30-Marine Gasoil (B30-MGO) which consists of 30% biodiesel and 70% Marine Gasoil (MGO), in Hong Kong. 

The supply, delivered to Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), represents the first time OOCL has received this fuel blend in the region.

In addition to the B30-MGO, this operation included a simultaneous delivery of B30-High Sulphur Marine Fuel Oil.

“This delivery, completed on 11 July, solidifies CPN’s leadership in advancing green fuel solutions in East Asia. Being the first bunker supplier in the region capable of providing all grades of ISCC-EU Certified marine biofuel, including marine fuel and gas oil, CPN demonstrates its commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said on its website. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 15 July, 2025

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Alternative Fuels

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: B100’s price edge grows in Rotterdam

Rotterdam B100’s discount to LSMGO tops $300/mt; earliest B100 delivery dates vary widely in Rotterdam; LNG bunker delivery premium at $130/mt in Rotterdam.

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ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: B100’s price edge grows in Rotterdam

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:

  • Rotterdam B100’s discount to LSMGO tops $300/mt
  • Earliest B100 delivery dates vary widely in Rotterdam
  • LNG bunker delivery premium at $130/mt in Rotterdam

B100’s discount to VLSFO in Rotterdam has widened by $8/mt to $173/mt. Its discount to LSMGO has increased by a greater $24/mt in the past week, to reach $322/mt.

In Singapore, B100 has become $50/mt more expensive than VLSFO over the past week, pushing its premium to $519/mt. These prices include estimated pooling values for voyages between Singapore and EU ports.

ENGINE on Fuel Switch Snapshot: B100’s price edge grows in Rotterdam

B100 is also the cheapest fuel option in Rotterdam for dual-fuel vessels with Otto medium-speed (Otto MS) engines. Its discount to LNG has widened by $30/mt, now ranging between $91–257/mt depending on engine type.

For Otto MS engines, B100 is now $53/mt cheaper than LBM. But for ships with diesel slow-speed (diesel SS) engines, LBM is the more cost-effective option, priced $64/mt below B100 due to its lower methane slip.

Liquid fuels

VLSFO prices have remained mostly steady over the past week. Rotterdam’s benchmark has edged up by $1/mt, while Singapore’s has dipped by $7/mt.

Rotterdam’s B100 has declined by $7/mt.

B100 bunker availability has varied widely between suppliers in Rotterdam in the past week. One supplier had tight barge availability and could deliver with four days of lead time. Another could deliver in 1-2 days, but at a hefty price premium. Most suppliers needed 7-8 days of lead time.

Singapore’s B100 price has surged $43/mt higher over the past week.

Liquid gases

Rotterdam’s LNG bunker price has risen by $23/mt, while its LBM has followed closely with a $26/mt gain.

LNG’s price rise has come amid “increased demand for air conditioning due to the hot weather, demand for injection into underground gas storage, and continued demand for gas transportation to Eastern Europe,” according to the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

A $10/mt rise in Rotterdam’s LNG bunker delivery premium assessed by ENGINE has also contributed to the price increase. The premium is around $130/mt now.

Singapore’s LNG price has remained largely unchanged, slipping by just $1/mt over the past week.

By Konica Bhatt

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 15 July, 2025

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