Association

Director of Singapore-based Equatorial Marine Fuel selected as IBIA Asia Regional Board member

Choong Sheen Mao, Director of Singapore’s top bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd and Kasper Soerensen, General Manager at Hafnia Bunkers, have joined IBIA Asia Regional Board.

Published

1 year ago

February 20, 2024

Admin

IBIA selects Director of Singapore-based Equatorial Marine Fuel as Asia Regional Board member

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (19 February) welcomed new members to its Asia Regional Board including Choong Sheen Mao, Director of Singapore’s top bunker supplier Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd.

Equatorial is a vertically integrated physical bunker supplier. In January 2024, a survey conducted by Singapore marine fuels publication Manifold Times with selected industry sources revealed the firm as the top bunker supplier in Singapore for 2023.

Equatorial owns and operates a fleet over 20 bunker tankers and supplies an annual bunker volume of about 5 million tonnes.

Choong graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Prior to joining Equatorial, he practised as a shipping and international trade lawyer at one of the largest law firms in Asia.

“In 2022, Equatorial was also ranked by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as the largest marine fuel supplier by volume in Singapore,” IBIA said in a social media post.

Kasper Soerensen, General Manager at Hafnia Bunkers oversees Hafnia’s bunker alliance in the Middle East and Asia. He boasts an extensive background of over 15 years in the shipping and bunkering industry.

“Throughout his professional journey, Kasper has garnered valuable experience working with physical suppliers and traders, including notable tenures at Bomin in Hamburg and Glencore in London and Singapore,” IBIA said.

“These experiences have contributed to his expertise in the industry, ultimately leading him to his current role at Hafnia.”

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 20 February, 2024

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Association

IBIA appoints Jon Hughes as new Chair of Africa Regional Board

Hughes, Managing Director of Dan-Bunkering Africa, brings extensive expertise in bunker trading and supply chain management, having played a pivotal role in the firm’s growth and operations across the region.

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2025

Admin

IBIA appoints Jon Hughes as new Chair of Africa Regional Board

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Wednesday (16 April) announced the appointment of Jon Hughes, Managing Director of Dan-Bunkering Africa, as the new Chair of the IBIA Africa Regional Board.

With over two decades of experience in the marine fuel sector, IBIA said Hughes brings extensive expertise in bunker trading and supply chain management, having played a pivotal role in Dan-Bunkering’s growth and operations across the African region.

“As Jon takes on this leadership role, we also take a moment to express our sincere appreciation to Paul Maclons, who is stepping down after serving as Chair since 2021,” IBIA said on its website.

“Paul’s tenure has been marked by integrity, dedication, and impactful leadership across both the Regional and Global Boards.”

Commenting on his appointment, Hughes said: “I am honoured to take on the role of IBIA Africa Chair and build on the solid foundations laid by Paul Maclons and previous Chairs.

“I look forward to working with colleagues across the region to further strengthen collaboration, promote sustainable practices, and support the continued growth of Africa’s bunkering sector.”

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 21 April, 2025

Association

IBIA announces two new board members at AGM

Mustafa Aslan of Asmira Group and Valeria Sessa of Reseaworld have been elected and re-elected for a three-year term; they will officially join IBIA Board on 1 April.

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2025

Admin

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (24 February) announced the results of its latest board election at the IBIA Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Nine candidates stood for election for two available IBIA Board positions. IBIA confirmed that Mustafa Aslan of Asmira Group and Valeria Sessa of Reseaworld have been elected and re-elected for a three-year term.

They will officially join the IBIA Board on 1 April.

As of 1 April, the IBIA Board will be as follows:

Chair: Constantinos Capetanakis, Starbulk
Vice Chair: Adrian Tolson, 2050 Marine Energy LLC
Hon. Treasurer: Nigel Draffin, Consultant
Mustafa Aslan, Asmira Group
Timothy Cosulich, Fratelli Cosulich
Claudia Beumer, C4 Fuel BV
Jeroen de Vos, Peninsula
Paul Maclons, African Marine Solutions Group (Pty) Ltd
Rahul Choudhuri, Veritas Petroleum Services (Asia) Pte Ltd
Colin Holloway, Cockett Marine Oil
Maria Skipper Schwenn, Bunker Holding Group
Ufuk Erinc, Unerco Petrol Urn. Denizcilik ve Tic. A.S.
Deanna MacDonald, BunkerTrace Ltd
Charlotte Rojgaard, Bureau Veritas
Valeria Sessa, Reseaworld

“We extend our sincere gratitude to all candidates who participated in the election, representing a diverse range of companies and regions,” IBIA said.

“We look forward to welcoming our newly elected Board members and working together to support IBIA’s mission.”

The results were announced ahead of the IBIA Annual Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 28 February, 2025

Mass Flowmeter

IBIA supports Port of Ceuta move to implement mandatory MFMs for bunkering ops

While this is a step forward, IBIA also highlights the importance of having the right regulations and procedures in place to make sure the transition to MFMs is smooth and consistent across the industry.

Published

2 months ago

February 17, 2025

Admin

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Friday (14 February) welcomed the Port of Ceuta’s decision to become the first Mediterranean port to implement the mandatory use of ISO 22192 certified Coriolis Mass Flow Meters (MFMs) for marine fuel supply.

IBIA said this initiative is a positive step towards modernising the marine fuel supply industry and improving transparency.

“IBIA has long supported the adoption of Mass Flow Meters across global bunkering hubs as they help increase measurement accuracy, reduce discrepancies, and build trust between suppliers and buyers,” it said in a statement.

“While this is a step forward, IBIA also highlights the importance of having the right regulations and procedures in place to make sure the transition to MFMs is smooth and consistent across the industry.”

IBIA added clear guidelines and solid processes are key to ensuring the success of such initiatives and maintaining trust in bunkering operations.

“This development is in line with IBIA’s ongoing push to see bunker licensing schemes, ideally incorporating MFMs, adopted in key global bunkering hubs,” it said.

IBIA said it looks forward to continued collaboration with ports, regulators, and industry partners to drive further improvements in transparency, reliability, and digitalisation in the marine fuel supply chain.

Manifold Times previously reported Port Authority of Ceuta mandating the use of international ISO 22192 certified and calibrated MFMs for marine fuel supply by barge.

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 17 February, 2025