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DNV Decarbonisation Insights: FuelBoss paves way into Singapore’s LNG and future marine fuels bunkering sector

Buyers can nominate deliveries on platform and plan operations together with suppliers following ‘one single truth’ concept with all players aware of what has been agreed when and by whom, says DNV spokesman.

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FuelBoss Pavilion Digital Bunkering full 1

The push towards transparency, race for alternative bunker fuels and upcoming IMO 2030/2050 maritime regulations have resulted in classification society DNV and Singapore-based LNG bunker provider Pavilion Energy seeking solutions for shipowners.

Both have recognised the complexities of liquified natural gas (LNG) bunkering operations concerning bunker delivery discrepancies, endless paperwork, and multiple stakeholder involvement.

With these in mind DNV and Pavilion Energy have joined forces to enhance FuelBoss, a fit-for- purpose LNG bunkering digital solution originally developed by DNV, for deployment in the Port of Singapore.

FuelBoss – initially focusing on LNG bunkering operations – aims to become the market leader in supporting end-to-end digital bunkering activities of all marine fuels.

Jon Anders Ryste and Martin Wold, Principal Consultants in DNV Maritime Advisory, explain why they think FuelBoss will become a game changer.

A rundown on FuelBoss

First launched as a pilot phase in May 2020, FuelBoss progressed to oversee commercial operations from early 2021 as a means to accelerate the uptake of LNG as a bunker fuel in shipping.

In short, the single platform enables shipowners and operators to:

  • Order bunker volumes within term contracts in a standardised format;
  • Track changes and monitor assets;
  • Communicate through an integrated chat;
  • Work jointly with the bunker asset on digital safety checklists;
  • Sign and archive checklists; and
  • Create and sign documents digitally, including the electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) and other documentation.
Jon Anders Ryste
Jon Anders Ryste

“Buyers can nominate deliveries on the platform and plan operations together with their suppliers. Throughout this planning phase, the concept of ‘one single truth’ is key: all relevant players are aware of what has been agreed, when and by whom, significantly reducing the risk of error,” highlights Ryste.

All safety checklists and documents are filled in and exchanged digitally – including the eBDN – during actual bunkering operations with FuelBoss.

“Experience in Europe has shown this can easily save 30 minutes onboard the vessels for a typical routine bunkering operation,” Ryste elaborates.

“Streamlined processes and reuse of data for automated reporting and archiving purposes also saves valuable time for onshore staff. Full value is realised for suppliers who integrate their ERP systems with FuelBoss APIs automating the inquiry to invoice process.”

FuelBoss users can further compare last deliveries with previous similar operations through sophisticated dashboards, allowing them to identify improvement opportunities to streamline future bunkering activities.

The perks don’t stop there.

DNV has big plans in its pipeline to roll out features to simplify LNG marine fuel procurement. Buyers will soon be able to easily identify relevant suppliers through the platform’s global LNG bunker availability map while reaching out with enquiries, Ryste reveals.

FuelBoss celebrates milestone achievements

To date, FuelBoss has received positive responses from players within the LNG bunkering industry; a feat considering extremely challenging LNG bunker market conditions due to price hikes.

“We are proud to currently have more than 20 active buyers on the platform. We have already digitalised more than 700 operations and even facilitated spot bunker deals of LNG bunker fuel,” notes Ryste.

“Together with Pavilion Energy, we will now adapt and roll out FuelBoss in Singapore expecting significant further growth in the largest bunkering market of the world.”

Pavilion Energy: First mover in the Singapore LNG bunkering sector 

LNG Bunkering Vessels in operation and under construction
LNG Bunkering Vessels in operation and under construction

Chris Lu, Head of Marine Business, Pavilion Energy, elaborates on the DNV collaboration.

Chris Lu
Chris Lu

“LNG bunkering supply chain management involves multiple stakeholders to manage a complex process,” he shares.

“We needed a reliable partner to develop a trustworthy platform for all to enable seamless data integration with minimum human intervention to improve transparency, efficiency and data integrity.”

Pavilion Energy has found DNV to be a like-minded partner in steering digitalisation efforts for the LNG bunkering industry.

“As an independent party from LNG bunker buyers and sellers, DNV also provides an ‘impartial/ non-biased’ platform to bridge the relationship between buyers and sellers for information exchange,” finds Lu.

However, he was quick to point out the need for active participation by various stakeholders (including LNG bunker buyers and suppliers) for feasible solutions to ensure success of the joint digitalisation effort.

“There is a need to demonstrate and convince stakeholders that proper change management and implementation has to be in place when switching from conventional to new ways of doing things. Ultimately, they need to be able to see the benefits these changes will bring,” he points out.

With transparency being an utmost priority to address in the bunkering sector, Lu believes FuelBoss can serve as an independent platform interfacing with in-house systems of both LNG bunker buyers and sellers.

With that in mind, the digital platform will improve transparency, consistency, efficiency and accuracy needed for bunker scheduling, nominations, quantity as well as quality actualisations.

“To illustrate an example – without the systems ‘talking to each other’, all actualisation data for product quantity and quality related to certain deliveries will have to be collected from the bunker barge and then consolidated and set into certain formats such as BDNs before being sent to the buyer for validation and payment,” shows Lu.

“With the FuelBoss system interface, the buyer can simply read delivery data on a real time basis and receive the BDN with all necessary information embedded immediately after an operation is done.”

Brassavola will be Singapores largest LNG bunkering vessel
Brassavola will be Singapore's largest LNG bunkering vessel

FuelBoss + MFMs for bunkering = greater transparency for market players

While MFM bunkering technology has been used for the custody transfer of traditional bunker fuels at Singapore, the LNG marine refuelling sector has its own equivalent – namely Custody Transfer Measurement Systems (CTMS) – which will be integrated with FuelBoss by early 2023.

“We have been preparing to connect such systems to FuelBoss for a long time, and the development comes as part of efforts to support Singapore’s plans to fully automate the reporting of bunkering operations to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA),” notes Ryste, adding Pavilion will be the first in the market to do so.

“Leveraging Singapore’s MFM policy, Veracity’s secure data storage and sharing services, and FuelBoss’ digital end-to-end work processes enable end users to view the entire process of bunkering with greatly improved visibility; creating a foundation of trust benefitting all stakeholders.”

Game plan: FuelBoss assimilates with all marine fuels

The Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050 document published by MPA highlights LNG as amongst key interim/transitional fuels used during the near term.

Due to the initial lack of LNG bunkering vessels at the republic during the transition phase, Ryste expects FuelBoss to play a key role of maximising delivery capacity through efficiently scheduling LNG bunkering operations.

A similar concept will also apply to methanol and ammonia in time, when they scale globally to serve a fleet of international vessels on the spot market.

As such, future marine fuels will result in the growth of FuelBoss to come in “two-folds” when the platform expands its product portfolio, he forecasts.

“The first fold comes through buyers and suppliers digitalising their bunker operations resulting in a continuous increase of FuelBoss’ market share in the LNG bunkering space,” Ryste shares.

“The second fold will come when we expand beyond LNG to serve other fuel markets as well.”

FuelBoss in a world of growing LNG-fuelled newbuildings 

Martin Wold
Martin Wold

Insights from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, meanwhile, have shown the number of LNG- fuelled vessels on order increasing “spectacularly” over the past 12 months-period, says Ryste’s colleague Martin Wold who points out there are already 857 vessels (either in operation or on order) capable of running on LNG as of 1 December 2022.

“By the time gas becomes competitive the LNG bunker market will come back with a boom. It is very clear from the orderbooks LNG demand will then have outrun supply and there will not be sufficient bunker vessel capacity to bunker everyone,” he predicts.

“Here, suppliers who have digitalised and automated their work processes will stand to make the most of the situation. In this scenario, FuelBoss will be able to help suppliers reduce bunker times to increase their delivery capacity and revenue.”

Importantly, the benefit for bunker buyers will be timely access to competitively priced LNG fuel when using FuelBoss.

“We estimate consistent use of FuelBoss across the industry will unlock increased supply capacity equivalent to two extra LNG bunker vessels, compared to the fleet of 50 LNG bunker vessels in operation and on order for 2025, based on increased operational efficiency alone,” Wold calculates.

“The value and savings which can be realised from such standardised industry collaboration over independent platform operations are remarkable and it is exciting to see how close we are to realising this.”

Demand for LNG from the marine sector will be larger than bunker vessel capacity by 2025 1

FuelBoss aligned with MPA’s decarbonisation and digitalisation plans

Singapore is no stranger to green growth with its quest for being a front runner in encouraging sustainability practices within the port and shipping sectors. These include future marine fuels, maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation.

Following this, MPA has published the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050, setting clear goals and strategies for the republic and its industry partners.

Digitalisation is not far behind as well with it being a key element in the maritime industry’s path to decarbonisation.

Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Mr Chee Hong Tat, at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) 2022 in October outlined three key areas – decarbonisation, digitalisation, and quality assurance – to guide Singapore’s efforts to tackle the near-term challenges for the bunkering sector.

Former MPA Chief Executive Quah Ley Hoon has also highlighted innovation as amongst three top priorities of MPA at the 2nd Marine & Offshore Congress 2022 earlier this year.

The presence of FuelBoss in Singapore is, perhaps, given the biggest nod with MPA welcoming solutions provided by the digital platform.

Capt. M. Segar, Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) of MPA, states: “As the world’s leading and trusted bunkering hub, we welcome Pavilion Energy and DNV’s efforts to develop digital solutions for LNG bunkering to further increase the transparency and efficiency of bunkering operations and provide better assurance to LNG bunker buyers and suppliers in the Port of Singapore.”

1. LBV4 MT

RelatedPavilion Energy, Gasum and CNOOC to strengthen global LNG bunker supply network
RelatedMPA blueprint prepares marine fuels sector for multi-fuel bunkering transition
RelatedInnovation, decarbonisation and talent the three main priorities of MPA, says CE
RelatedSingapore, UAE join forces on digitalisation, decarbonisation in maritime industry
RelatedSingapore: Quah Ley Hoon to step down as Chief Executive of MPA on 5 September
RelatedSingapore: LNG bunker vessel “Brassavola” launched, to undergo sea trials
RelatedSIBCON 2022: Singapore sets out to drive transformation in bunkering

Photo credit: DNV, Pavilion Energy, Sembcorp Marine
Published: 5 December, 2022

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore: MPA launches EOI to expand LNG bunkering services amid growing demand

MPA is seeking proposals to explore scalable solutions for sea-based LNG reloading to complement existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and e/bio-methane supply as a marine fuel.

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RESIZED SG bunker tanker

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) to explore scalable solutions for sea-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) reloading to complement the existing onshore LNG bunkering storage and jetty capacities and the supply of e/bio-methane as marine fuel in the Port of Singapore.

MPA said LNG bunkering in Singapore has grown from 16,000 tonnes delivered in 2022 to over 385,000 tonnes delivered from January to October 2024. 

According to the EOI, demand for LNG bunkering is expected to grow further with a growing global fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels and competitive LNG bunker prices. 

“The EOI seeks to gather proposals on three areas: to scale up sea-based reloading operations, including ship-to-bunker barge LNG operations; to facilitate the supply of LNG alternatives such as liquefied bio-methane; and to develop floating platform concepts to enhance bunkering safety and efficiency,” MPA added.

“The EOI proposals should also include mitigation measures to address the issue of methane slip on a well-to-wake basis.”

Participants in the EOI do not need to be an existing LNG bunkering licensee. Participants are required to propose models for operationalising sea-based LNG reloading starting from 2025. Participants selected will be required to conduct trials in Singapore to validate the proposed solution’s operational feasibility and safety. 

“Insights gained from the EOI and trials will inform MPA’s review of the LNG licensing framework, including enhancements to supply to better serve the industry’s bunkering needs,” it said. 

Note: Interested parties can visit the MPA website for details and submission guidelines. Proposals must be submitted by 28 February 2025, 1pm (Singapore time).

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 13 December, 2024

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Events

Malaysia: 12th PorTech Asia Summit to bring together leaders in port industry

Event, which will be held on 9 to 10 January, will tackle important topics in the port industry including challenges and opportunities for Asian Port Industry as well as sustainable green development of ports.

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Malaysia: 12th PorTech Asia Summit to bring together leaders in port industry

The 12th PorTech Asia Summit is now just one month away, with doors opening at Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 9 to 10 of January. 

The summit is organised and hosted by Shine Consultant and co-organised by ASEAN Ports Association (APA). 

Themed Smart, Green, Multi-win, the summit will gather leaders and experts in the field of port technology around the world to discuss and promote the innovation and development of the port industry in the digital era.

Some speakers who were invited to share their unique insights and valuable experiences in their respective fields include: 

  • Dato' Monaliza Binti Suhaimi, General Manager, Johor Port Authority
  • YBhg. Dato' Dr. Vijayaindiaran A/LR.Viswalingam, General Manager, Penang Port Commission
  • Uematsu Hisataka, President, Port of Yokohama, Japan
  • Vineet Mahajan, Vice President & Head of Sustainability, DP World APAC
  • Liu Chang Man, Vice President, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd
  • Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority and Deendayal Port Authority
  • Mazlim Bin Husin, Chief Commercial Officer, Kuantan Port
  • Mohd Khairul Azizat Johari, Head of Facility Management, Johor Port Berhad, Malaysia
  • Budi Cahyono, Vice President Director, PT Jakarta International Container Terminal
  • Eun-kyoung Park, General Manager, Overseas Business Department, Busan Port Authority
  • Ivan Fantin, Vice President, Chief Lean Officer, APM Terminals, Maersk
  • Desmond Ong, Chief Digital Officer, Jurong Port, Singapore

Agenda

Day 1: 9 January

Session 1: Challenges and Opportunities for Asian Port Industry

Session 2: Blending Old and New: Port Construction and Upgrade Projects

Day 2: 10 January 

Session 3 Forum: Efficiency Improvement and Business Innovation Driven by Digital Intelligence 

Session 4  Forum: Green & Safety - Building Sustainable Development Capacity of Ports

Shine Consultant is inviting representatives from government and port authorities, industry associations, port terminal owners, digital solution providers, port machinery and equipment suppliers, research institutions, professional service organizations, and other relevant institutions to attend the summit. 

Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with industry leaders and jointly explore the future trends and innovative pathways of the port industry.

Interested parties may contact:

Jenny Wu
Tel: (86 21) 6095 7179
E-mail: [email protected]
Company: Shine Consultant International Ltd.

Or scan QR code to register. Interested parties may also register here.

qr code portech

Related: 12th PorTech Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia from 9 to 10 January

 

Photo credit: Shine Consultant
Published: 13 December, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Firm will supply cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel currently being built at Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China.

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Wärtsilä wins LNG systems order for Vitol bunkering newbuild vessel

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, on Friday (13 December) said it has won a contract to supply Cargo Handling and Fuel Gas Supply systems for a new 12,500 m3 LNG bunkering vessel.

The vessel is being built at the Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering shipyard in China, for global energy company Vitol.

“Wärtsilä’s ability to engineer, design and deliver a complete system, including the Boil-Off Gas (BOG) management, integrated fuel supply, custody transfer and bunkering transfer systems, was central to the contract award,” Wärtsilä said, adding the order was booked by the company in Q4, 2024. 

Richie Zhu, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, China, said: “LNG is today an important marine fuel and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for owners and operators seeking more sustainable fuel options. The market for LNG bunkering vessels is increasing in line with this trend, and we have established a leading position in supplying modern and reliable systems that optimise overall cargo handling efficiency for such vessels.”

Manifold Times previously reported Vitol securing three LNG Bunkering Vessels (LNGBV) through its shipping company, Vitol International Shipping Pte Ltd (VIS).

The vessels were secured via a seven to ten year time charter agreement with Avenir LNG Limited (Avenir) and an order for two vessels at the CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co. Ltd shipyard in Nantong, China.

The time charter agreement with Avenir is for one newbuild 20,000 m3 LNGBV. The time charter will commence at delivery from the shipyard in China in Q4 2026 and will serve a period of seven years with options to extend up to ten years in total. 

Vitol also ordered one 12,500 m3 and one 20,000 m3 LNGBV at the CIMC SOE shipyard in China. The vessels will be delivered in Q4 2026 and Q3 2027 respectively.

Related: Vitol secures LNG bunker vessel trio with time charter deal and newbuilding order

 

Photo credit: Wärtsilä
Published: 13 December, 2024

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