Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Hurricane Nicole hits Florida ports; VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Houston; bunkers super tight in Panama.

Published

4 years ago

November 10, 2022

Admin

Resized Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook image for Manifold Times

The following article regarding bunker fuel availability in the Americas region has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

10 November 2022

Hurricane Nicole hits Florida ports
VLSFO and LSMGO readily available in Houston
Bunkers super tight in Panama

North America

Several suppliers in the Houston area can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO on prompt grades. Buyers are able to secure the grades for prompt dates without any major hassle, partly as Houston has a large pool of suppliers, sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is also normal for prompt dates in New York, while HSFO availability can be patchy in both New York and Houston. Only certain suppliers can accommodate prompt HSFO stems, sources say.

Prompt VLSFO is available in New Orleans, while LSMGO is slightly tight to secure for prompt dates.

All grades remain tight for prompt dates in the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on the US West Coast. A longer lead time of at least 10 days is generally recommended to ensure full coverage from all suppliers. Lead times can be even longer and unpredictable for HSFO in both ports as the grade is offered by fewer suppliers, sources say.

Port operations and bunkering is still suspended in several ports in Florida, after Hurricane Nicole made landfall on the east coast of Florida. The US Coast Guard has set port condition ZULU in the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Jacksonville, Port Tampa Bay and many others. Port condition ZULU mandates port authorities to cease all operations.

Jacksonville Port Authority says the port is likely to reopen on Friday, but this will depend on the US Coast Guard’s approval.

Bunker availability continues to be steady for all fuel grades in Mexico’s Manzanillo. Recommended lead times for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO are about five days out, while prompt stems can be accommodated, sources say.

Caribbean and Latin America

Bunker operations in the Bahamas’ Freeport have been suspended since Wednesday due to Hurricane Nicole. Calmer weather conditions from Friday should allow suppliers to resume operations.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is getting tighter off Trinidad. Some suppliers that were offering deliveries for prompt dates throughout last week are now advising lead times of at least five days, sources say.

All grades are tight for prompt dates in Panama’s Balboa and Cristobal. Several suppliers are hesitant to confirm delivery dates for HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO due to tight availability. The earliest delivery date for VLSFO with a supplier in Balboa is about eight days out.

Lead times can be longer in Cristobal than in Balboa due to limited product availability among suppliers, sources say.

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in Colombia’s Cartagena and Santa Marta. One supplier can supply for prompt dates in both ports, while another requires three days of lead time.

All grades are readily available in Peru’s Callao. A supplier can supply the grades for prompt dates.

VLSFO is readily available in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. The earliest delivery date with a supplier is about 3-4 days ahead. Another requires 5-6 days of lead time.

By Nithin Chandran

Photo credit and source: ENGINE

Published: 11 November, 2022

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

18 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026