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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (26 March 2024)

Availability is good across all grades in Zhoushan; VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good across several Chinese ports; several East Asian ports could face weather disruptions.

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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:

  • Availability is good across all grades in Zhoushan
  • VLSFO and LSMGO availability is good across several Chinese ports
  • Several East Asian ports could face weather disruptions

Singapore and Malaysia

Prompt availability of VLSFO has improved a bit in Singapore. Most suppliers recommend up to 12 days of lead time, while some can accommodate stems in as little as three days in the port. This has improved from the week prior, when traders recommended longer lead times ranging between 9-13 days.

Three suppliers are struggling to meet delivery schedules in Singapore. HSFO prompt supply is tight, with lead times of 8-14 days recommended, unchanged from last week. In contrast, LSMGO has shorter lead times of 3-9 days.

According to Enterprise Singapore’s latest data, Singapore’s residual fuel oil stocks in March have averaged 3% lower than in February. The port experienced a 12% decrease in net fuel oil imports this month, despite increases in both imports and exports. Fuel oil exports surged by 529,000 bbls, while imports saw a modest gain of 12,000 bbls, contributing to the stock decline. Conversely, the port's middle distillate stocks surged 17% this month to 10.38 million bbls, reaching multi-month high levels.

In Malaysia's Port Klang, prompt availability for VLSFO and LSMGO remains good, with several suppliers offering prompt supply. HSFO remains very tight due to the low product availability with suppliers.

China, East Asia and Oceania

All grades remain in good supply for prompt dates in Zhoushan, with several suppliers recommending lead times of 2-5 days – largely unchanged from last week. Bunker operations in Zhoushan’s OPL area resumed on Tuesday after being shut down since Friday due to bad weather conditions, a source said. All anchorages in the Chinese bunkering hub were operational on Tuesday.

In north China, Dalian maintains good availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, while Tianjin experiences tightness across all fuel types. Qingdao has ample availability of VLSFO and LSMGO, but HSFO availability is subject to enquiry. In the southern port of Shanghai, VLSFO and LSMGO availability have improved, although HSFO availability is still under pressure. In Fuzhou, Yangpu, and Xiamen, both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available. However, both low-sulphur fuel grades remain limited in Guangzhou.

In Hong Kong, all bunker fuel grades remain readily available, with lead times of around seven days generally recommended for smooth coverage. Strong wind gusts of 19-22 knots and swells of more than a metre are forecast to hit the port on Wednesday, which might bunker deliveries.

Prompt availability has gotten tighter in several South Korean ports. Suppliers in southern and western ports are now recommending lead times of around 7-10 days, more than a double from 3-4 days in the previous week.

Notably, high waves and strong winds, are forecast in periods through the week in the South Korean ports of Ulsan, Onsan, Busan, Daesan, Taean, and Yeosu, which could potentially impact bunker operations at these ports.

Bunker demand remains sluggish across Japanese ports, with lead times ranging from 7-10 days in Tokyo, Chiba, Osaka, and Kobe, around 13 days in Nagoya and Yokkaichi, and even longer periods of 15-17 days in Mizushima and Oita.

Rough weather is also forecast in the Vietnamese ports of Ho Chi Minh (26-27 March) and Hai Phong (31 March-1 April) and in the Kiwi port of Tauranga (27-31 March), potentially affecting bunkering operations in these ports.

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO supply shortages have been reported in several Indian ports, including the major ports of Kandla, Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Haldia.

In Cochin and Paradip, some suppliers have almost run out of VLSFO and LSMGO stocks, a source says.

Adverse weather conditions are forecast at the Indian ports of Kandla, Sikka, and Visakhapatnam intermittently later this week and early next week, which could potentially disrupt bunkering operations.

On the flipside, the Sri Lankan ports of Trincomalee and Colombo have ample VLSFO and LSMGO supply, along with good availability of HSFO in Trincomalee.

Middle East

Many shipping companies continue to steer clear of the Red Sea route because of ongoing attacks by Houthis on commercial vessels. Instead, they are opting for the longer voyage around Africa, avoiding the shorter Suez Canal route. This change in shipping routes is gradually influencing bunker fuel demand in Fujairah.

Prompt availability remains tight in the UAE port of Fujairah, with many suppliers recommending lead times of 7-10 days for all bunker fuel grades, unchanged from last week. Overall, bunker demand has slowed in the port, a source says.

In the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, most suppliers are recommending lead times of 7-10 days, similar to Fujairah. Suppliers across UAE ports, including Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Dubai are bracing for potential bunkering disruptions from Tuesday to Friday due to anticipated adverse weather conditions.

In the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah, both VLSFO and LSMGO are readily available. However, in the nearby port of Djibouti, some suppliers are experiencing VLSFO shortages, while LSMGO supply remains stable.

The Omani ports of Sohar, Salalah, Muscat, and Duqm have abundant LSMGO available

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 27 March 2024

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Alternative Fuels

New agreements inked to advance marine electrification in Singapore

Lita Ocean, SeaTech Solutions, Pascal Technologies, and Evoy will develop a fully electric passenger harbour craft, specifically for Singapore, while Yinson GreenTech and Evoy will develop electric vessels.

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New agreements inked to advance marine electrification in Singapore

Innovation Norway and Team Norway on Wednesday (6 November) announced two agreements aimed at advancing sustainable maritime solutions, signed at the Singapore Norway Innovation Conference (SNIC) 2024.

The first agreement—a Letter of Intent (LOI)—was signed by Lita Ocean Pte Ltd, SeaTech Solutions International (S) Pte Ltd, Pascal Technologies AS, and Evoy AS, to develop a fully electric high-speed harbour craft specifically designed for Singapore’s maritime landscape. The second agreement—a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)—was signed between Yinson GreenTech and Evoy, aiming to foster collaboration in marine electrification across Asia. 

The LOI signed between Lita Ocean, SeaTech Solutions, Pascal Technologies, and Evoy marks a key milestone in Singapore’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize its maritime industry. 

The project will develop a fully electric passenger harbour craft, integrating cutting-edge technologies like advanced electric propulsion and air lubrication systems to maximise energy efficiency and performance. This new vessel will set new standards for sustainable harbour operations and support Singapore’s green transformation goals in maritime transportation. 

Evoy sign MOU in Norway Singapore agreement 02

The collaboration builds on previous advancements in electric harbour crafts in Singapore, positioning the project as a critical step toward achieving maritime decarbonisation and a cleaner, greener future for the region. 

Additionally, Yinson GreenTech and Evoy have signed an MoU that will combine their strengths to drive marine electrification in the region. Yinson GreenTech’s electrification solutions, paired with Evoy’s electric propulsion systems, will support the conversion of internal combustion engine (ICE) vessels to electric power and foster the development of new electric vessels. 

This partnership is aimed at advancing the transition to a more sustainable maritime industry, with the shared goal of exploring new opportunities, collaborating on upcoming projects, and playing a key role in the broader transition to greener shipping solutions in Asia. 

The MoU was signed by Jan-Viggo Johansen, Managing Director of marinEV at Yinson GreenTech, and Mads Roland-Glimsholt, Business Development Manager at Evoy. 

“As a proud partner in this Norway-Singapore initiative, Evoy is excited to bring our high-performance electric propulsion systems to Singapore’s maritime landscape. We are committed to setting new standards in sustainable harbour craft and working with our partners to support a greener future in maritime transport” Mads Roland-Glimsholt, Business Development Manager at Evoy. 

 

Photo credit: Evoy
Published: 8 November, 2024

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Alternative Fuels

ExxonMobil supplies Hapag-Lloyd with B25 bio bunker fuel blend in Antwerp

Firm supplied Hapag-Lloyd vessel “Colorado Express” with 1,320 mt of B25 bio marine fuel blend, which consisted of ExxonMobil’s Premium HDME 50™ fuel and waste-based FAME derived from UCOME.

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Hapag-Lloyd

ExxonMobil on Thursday (7 November) said it supplied Hapag-Lloyd’s vessel Colorado Express with 1,320 metric tonnes (mt) of a B25 bio marine fuel blend in Antwerp. 

The blend consisted of ExxonMobil’s Premium HDME 50™ fuel, a 0.10% sulphur Emission Control Area (ECA) fuel, and waste-based fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME).

“The ‘drop-in’ blend met the requirements of ISO 8217:2017 with the exception of the FAME component. The FAME content complied with EN 14214,” ExxonMobil said in a statement.

“The bio component was made material certified as meeting the sustainability requirements of the RED II: feedstocks not in competition with land for food production.”

ExxonMobil’s bio marine fuel blend underwent a range of tests prior to delivery in Antwerp. 

The blend offered an estimated 20.1% well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction compared with conventional marine fuel formulations on an energy basis.

“Hapag-Lloyd aims at having net-zero carbon fleet operations by 2045. As part of that commitment, we are continuously looking for opportunities to onboard new bio blends in our fuels mix. We appreciate ExxonMobil’s efforts to supply us with a bio blend with ULSFO, which is another step forward in our decarbonisation journey,” said Ilyas Muhammad, Head of Green Fuels at Hapag-Lloyd. 

“We successfully bunkered bio-ULSFO blend at our Colorado Express and so far our operational experience with this product is positive. We look forward to increasing bio-ULSFO consumption in the future,” said Nikolai Doerner, Senior Manager Biofuels at Hapag-Lloyd.

The Colorado Express used the bio marine fuel blend without incident; both NOx and particulate emissions were within accepted limits.

“ExxonMobil is looking for ways to support our customers [to] reduce their GHG emissions,” said Pelin Gillis, Marine Fuels Sales Manager, BNL, ExxonMobil. “We are proud to have helped Hapag-Lloyd on their journey to a lower GHG emissions future.”

“ExxonMobil has greatly extended its range of ‘drop-in’ bio marine fuel blends,” said Armelle Breneol, Marine Fuels Technical Advisor, ExxonMobil. 

“We now offer a B25 ULSFO, a B30 VLSFO, a B7 MGO and a B10 HSFO. This will help our customers access the blend they need to meet their engine operations and GHG emission reduction goals.”

 

Photo credit: Hapag-Lloyd
Published: 8 November, 2024

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Biofuel

GoodFuels delivers B30 bio bunker fuel blend to cruise ship “Norwegian Dawn”

B30 biofuel blend, produced exclusively from feedstocks certified as 100% waste and residues, was supplied by FincoEnergies in partnership with KPI OceanConnect.

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GoodFuels delivers B30 bio bunker fuel blend to cruise ship “Norwegian Dawn”

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn recently received a GoodFuels B30 sustainable biofuel blend while docked at the IJmuiden Cruise Terminal in the Netherlands, according to GoodFuels on Thursday (7 November). 

The B30 biofuel blend, produced exclusively from feedstocks certified as 100% waste and residues, was supplied by FincoEnergies in partnership with KPI OceanConnect. It offers a sustainable alternative that avoids competition with food resources. 

“By choosing GoodFuels’ sustainable biofuel, Norwegian Dawn can achieve up to 80-90% reduction in lifecycle CO₂ emissions compared to traditional marine diesel—requiring no engine modifications to realise these benefits,” GoodFuels said. 

Beyond reducing carbon emissions, biofuels contribute to cleaner air quality along cruise routes. For vessels like Norwegian Dawn, this means fewer local pollutants such as sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), and black carbon, ultimately benefiting both the environment and communities near these waters. 

“We’re excited to support Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in their move toward cleaner cruising. By choosing sustainable biofuels, they’re driving down emissions and setting a strong example for the cruise industry” said Mayu Kubo, Commercial Manager, Marine Biofuels at FincoEnergies.

The initiative aligns with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd’s ‘Sail and Sustain’ programme, which advocates for the use of renewable fuels across 40% of its fleet. 

Related: GoodFuels ceases bio bunker fuel deliveries in Singapore after near three-year run

 

Photo credit: GoodFuels
Published: 8 November, 2024

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