Dan-Bunkering coordinates Union Bulk’s first ever biofuel operation in Singapore

Global bunker supplier Dan-Bunkering on Tuesday (18 March) said it has completed the arrangement of Union Bulk’s first ever bunkering of biofuel in Singapore. 

The delivery was coordinated by Dan-Bunkering and executed via a ship-to-ship (STS) operation delivering 300 metric tonnes (mt) of bio residual marine fuel (B24 VLSFO) to Union Bulk’s vessel Blue Union Alpha on 9 March. 

“Dan-Bunkering’s strength, in a case like this, comes from having spent a great amount time and resources in putting the necessary framework and biofuel supply team together, to support a first-time buyer like, in this case, Union Bulk. When we were called upon by Union Bulk for this task, we could jump into action immediately, schedule the delivery, and completed the ordering process with just a day’s notice,” said Michel Dominique Thomsen, Commercial Director at Dan-Bunkering.

Loading the B24 VLSFO will allow the Blue Union Alpha to complete its voyage to Europe while complying with the EU’s regulatory frameworks of ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

“Before setting out on the voyage from Singapore to EU, adding B24 VLSFO was vital for us to meet emissions requirements imposed by the EU. And having both fuel quality, paperwork, and delivery in place and in time for an operation with short notice, we called Dan-Bunkering,” said Thomas Nielsen, Operations Director and Parter at Union Bulk.

“This being our first biofuel bunkering operation, we went above and beyond with 300 MT, easily sufficing the journey’s needs. But this was to get experience and prove the feasibility of the operation, and it was a good experience for us both commercially and operationally. Bunkering biofuel, as is turns out, isn’t much different than regular marine fuels; but being new territory for us, we are pleased to have worked with Dan-Bunkering on this operation and have them warrant that it was done in correct manner.”

One of easiest ways to go about meeting the FuelEU requirements is to use a drop-in fuel like biofuel to lower the emissions. For a ship like the Union Blue Alpha, adding 300 mt of B24 VLSFO may result in CO2 emissions savings of about 79 tonnes of CO2 and a reduction in GHG Intensity compared to conventional fuels.

Photo credit: Dan-Bunkering
Published: 19 March, 2025