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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

VLSFO and HSFO availability tight in Singapore; several East Asian ports brace for possible weather-related disruptions; demand good in Fujairah.

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RESIZED ENGINE East of Suez

The following article regarding regional bunker fuel availability outlook for the East of Suez region has been provided by online marine fuels procurement platform ENGINE for publication on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

  • VLSFO availability tight in Singapore
  • Weak bunker demand in Zhoushan
  • LSMGO availability good across Omani ports

 

Singapore

After a spike in bunker demand last week, the demand has been relatively quiet so far this week, a source says. Availability of VLSFO has tightened in Singapore, with lead times increasing slightly from 8-10 days last week to 10-12 days now

On the other hand, lead times for HSFO have come down from 6-11 days last week to 6-9 days now. LSMGO remains readily available, with most suppliers offering unchanged lead times of 2-4 days.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 9% higher in August than in July, data from Enterprise Singapore shows. Despite the port’s net fuel oil imports declining by 14% in August, the port’s fuel oil stocks grew above 21 million bbls in August. Overall, there was less cargo trade, with fuel oil imports slumping by 13%, and exports by 9%.

The Southeast Asian hub’s middle distillate stocks remained roughly steady at above 7 million bbls in August.

 

East Asia and Oceania

A source says bunker demand remains weak in Zhoushan. Some suppliers are offering VLSFO and LSMGO with lead times of 4-6 days – slightly up from 3-5 days last week. Lead times of 3-5 days are advised for HSFO.

Bunker deliveries resumed at Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) area on Tuesday after being suspended by Typhoon Saola-induced bad weather since Thursday. All four anchorages in the Chinese bunkering hub are operational now, a source says.

Availability has improved across all bunker fuel grades in Hong Kong, with recommended lead times halving from almost 14 days last week to around seven days now.

Meanwhile, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO has improved in South Korean ports amid average bunker demand, a source says. Most suppliers are advising lead times of 7-13 days for both grades now, compared to lead times of up to 15 days recommended last week. On the other hand, lead times of HSFO have risen from 10-11 days last week, to 7-13 days now.

Rough weather is forecast in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan and Yeosu between 5-10 September, which might disrupt bunker operations at these ports.

Adverse weather conditions are also predicted in the Thai ports of Koh Sichang and Leam Chabang between 10-12 September, and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga on 11 September, which might impact bunker operations.

 

South Asia

Several Indian ports, including Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, have good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, with some suppliers advising short lead times of around 2-3 days.

Meanwhile, both grades still remain subject to availability in the Indian ports of Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, and subject to enquiry in Tuticorin on the southeast coast and Haldia on the east coast.

Bad weather is forecast to hit the Indian ports of Kandla and Sikka between 8-12 September, and in Visakhapatnam on 17 September, which may hamper bunker deliveries

 

Middle East

Prompt availability remains “super tight” in Fujairah, with most suppliers recommending unchanged lead times of 5-7 days across all grades. However, some can offer prompt supply, but these deliveries depend on stem sizes.

All grades remain in ample availability across all grades in the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, with lead times of 5-7 days – virtually unchanged from last week.

LSMGO availability remains good across the Omani ports of Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and Muscat, with prompt supply available.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 6 September, 2023

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Winding up

Singapore: United Ocean Ship Management Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

A liquidator has been appointed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 12 June for the purpose of winding up company’s affair, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for United Ocean Ship Management Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held on 12 June, according to a post in the Government Gazette on Friday (19 June).

According to the company’s website, United Ocean Ship Management was founded in 2012 in Singapore and specialises in ship management services. The company manages a fleet of Floating Storage Tankers (FSUs) in Singapore, Malaysian, and Indonesian waters, currently comprising nine ULCC/VLCC/FSUs.

The duly passed resolutions were:

AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

  • That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the “Act”)
  • That the Liquidator be and is hereby authorised to exercise any or all of the powers given by Section 144 (1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and 144 (2) of the Act.
  • That the Liquidator be authorised to distribute either in cash or in specie any part or all of the surplus assets of the Company to the contributories.

AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

  • That Ms. Muk Siew Peng of c/o ClearView Associates Pte Ltd 133 New Bridge Road #08-01 Chinatown Point Singapore 059413 be and hereby appointed as Liquidator for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the Company.
  • That the renumeration and winding up disbursements of the Liquidator be fixed on a time basis at the rates normally charged by such an assignment.
  • That the Liquidator be authorized to destroy all the books and records/papers of the Company and of the Liquidator five years after the date of dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 195(2) of the Act.

In another notice, the liquidators of United Ocean Ship Management said creditors for the company are required on or before the 20 July to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the liquidators. 

Liquidators may also require creditors to, “come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.”

The liquidators can be contacted at the following address:

Muk Siew Peng
Liquidator
c/o ClearView Associates Pte Ltd
133 New Bridge Road
#08-01 Chinatown Point
Singapore 059413

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 22 June, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

Dan-Bunkering supports Sallaum Lines with LNG bunkering operation in China

“Ocean Express” is one of six newbuilds in the series and represents the fourth supply opportunity Dan-Bunkering has supported so far.

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Dan-Bunkering supports Sallaum Lines with LNG bunkering operation in China

Global bunker supplier Dan-Bunkering on Friday (19 June) said it has recently concluded an LNG delivery in China for Sallaum Lines’ newbuild Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), Ocean Express

The delivery involved approximately 1,400 metric tonnes (mt) of LNG bunker fuel. 

This delivery is the outcome of a development process that began around April 2025, during which Dan-Bunkering worked with Sallaum Lines to evaluate several LNG supply opportunities in China linked to the company’s newbuild programme. 

Ocean Express is one of six newbuilds in the series and represents the fourth supply opportunity Dan-Bunkering has supported so far.

For this delivery, Dan-Bunkering said it secured a ship-to-ship supply solution aligned with the vessel’s operational requirements. The solution was made possible through close cooperation with supply partner SIPG Energy.

“This is a great example of what it takes to support clients in the transition to alternative fuels,” said James Shiller, Global Lead of New Fuels at Dan-Bunkering, and continues:

“LNG bunkering is not always straightforward, particularly during a first full bunker operation. Success depends on local knowledge and persistent cooperation across teams. Sallaum Lines trusted us and SIPG Energy to keep working the options, and we are proud that all involved teams turned a challenging situation into a successful delivery. We value the relationship and look forward to supporting their remaining newbuild deliveries.”

The company added that the delivery was made possible through close coordination across Dan-Bunkering and the wider Group, including Dan-Bunkering’s Netherlands office, Bunker Holding’s specialists and sourcing team.

 

Photo credit: Dan-Bunkering
Published: 22 June, 2026

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Bunker Fuel Quality

Fuel quality issues drive 50% rise in bunker claims, says Gard

Gard says bunker-related claims increased significantly in between January and May 2026, with over 70 cases recorded – a 50% rise compared to 2025 and notes that most claims involve fuel quality.

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RESIZED Shaah Shahidh on Unsplash

Maritime protection and indemnity (P&I) club Gard on Friday (19 June) released a report on practical observations from recent cases of bunker-related claims, highlighting recurring challenges and essential considerations for managing fuel quality issues effectively:

Key findings

  • Sharp rise in bunker claims and geopolitics: Bunker-related claims increased significantly in early 2026, with over 70 cases recorded – a 50% rise compared to 2025. Most claims involved fuel quality, with a noticeable uptick following the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
  • Global risk profile with concentration driven by supply volumes: Bunker quality incidents were recorded worldwide, reflecting a broadly dispersed and global risk environment rather than a localized issue. Higher numbers of claims at major hubs such as Singapore, Houston, and ARA mainly reflect their large bunkering volumes
  • VLSFO remains the primary source of claims: Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) accounts for the vast majority of bunker quality claims. Its complex blended nature increases the likelihood of variability and contamination, making it more prone to quality issues. This reinforces that VLSFO continues to be the key technical risk area in marine fuel usage.
  • ISO 8217 compliance does not guarantee fuel suitability: A significant proportion of cases involved fuels that met ISO 8217 Table 2 parameters but still caused operational issues and damage to machinery. This underscores the growing importance of Clause 5, which focuses on whether fuel is fit for use and free from harmful substances. Standard testing alone is often insufficient, requiring more advanced analysis to identify problematic contaminants.
  • Claims are driven by both technical and contractual challenges: Bunker disputes are often complex due to misaligned contractual relationships between owners, charterers, and suppliers. Issues related to binding sample, parameter(s) to be tested, time bars and evidentiary requirements frequently complicate claims resolution.
  • Operational impact is often underestimated compared to headline casualties: While no major casualties were directly linked to poor fuel in this dataset, several vessels were disabled or required towage. These incidents can create high exposure when occurring in congested or coastal waters. The absence of catastrophic outcomes should not obscure the underlying operational risk.

This report draws on Gard’s claims data from the first five months of 2026, with additional data contributions from VPS.

Note: The full report titled ‘Beyond Specification: Bunker claims insights in early 2026’ can be found here

 

Photo credit: Shaah Shahidh on Unsplash
Published: 22 June, 2026

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