Business

ENGINE: Americas Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO availability tight in New York; VLSFO “super tight” in Zona Comun; demand improves in NOLA.

Published

3 years ago

July 21, 2023

Admin

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:

20 July 2023

HSFO availability tight in New York
VLSFO “super tight” in Zona Comun
Demand improves in NOLA

North America

Demand has remained good for all fuel grades in Houston this week. Several suppliers in the Houston area can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt delivery dates, with a recommended lead time of 4-5 days. HSFO availability has been tight with most suppliers in Houston, the grade requires a longer lead time of more than seven days, a source says.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is tight in Bolivar Roads. Deliveries are subject to weather conditions and anchorage schedules, a source says.

Suppliers in the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) can accommodate prompt VLSFO and LSMGO stems with 4-5 days of lead time amid calm weather conditions this week. One supplier can deliver HSFO stems with a longer lead time of eight days. While others can offer the fuel grade on a subject to enquiry basis.

Demand for LSMGO and VLSFO have improved at the New Orleans Outer Anchorage (NOLA) and stems can be secured for very prompt (0-3 days) dates.

Bunker fuel availability in the West Coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles has improved this week. One supplier can offer LSMGO and HSFO stems in Los Angeles within 4-5 days of lead time.

Demand has been weak in Seattle and Vancouver further up the North American west coast. Some suppliers can deliver LSMGO and VLSFO stems in Vancouver with a recommended lead time of seven days.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt dates is normal in the East Coast port of New York. HSFO availability remains tight in the port.

Caribbean and Latin America

Tropical Storm Calvin brushed through the southern part of Hawaii on Wednesday. Port operations in Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Honolulu and Kahoolawe resumed on Thursday after being suspended for a day. The storm had minimal impacts on port operations in the area, a source says.

VLSFO and LSMGO demand has been strong in Panama’s Balboa port this week. Product availability is normal with several suppliers able to supply both fuel grades with a lead time of 4-5 days. Demand for HSFO has been relatively muted in Balboa and Cristobal, and prompt supply is readily available in both ports.

VLSFO and LSMGO stems are available for prompt dates in Jamaica’s Kingston. A supplier can deliver VLSFO and LSMGO stems with a lead time of 3-4 days.

Bunker operations have been running smoothly in Argentina’s Zona Comun anchorage. However, strong winds of up to 35 knots are forecast between Friday and Sunday, which could disrupt bunkering at the anchorage.

VLSFO availability is said to be super tight in Zona Comun, with lead times of more than seven days recommended. The earliest delivery dates with a supplier in Zona Comun stretch up to the second week of August.

Demand has improved in the Brazilian ports of Santos, Rio Grande and Rio de Janeiro this week. Several suppliers can offer VLSFO and LSMGO stems in these ports within 5-6 days of lead time.

Two suppliers can deliver prompt stems in Rio Grande, but these deliveries are subject to enquiry, a source says.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 21 July, 2023

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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.

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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.

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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

15 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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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.

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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.

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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