Business

ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO380 contamination concerns in Singapore; Hong Kong demand on steady rise; Sri Lanka grapples with state of emergency and curfews.

Published

4 years ago

April 13, 2022

Admin

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:

12 April 2022

HSFO380 contamination concerns in Singapore
Hong Kong demand on steady rise
Sri Lanka grapples with state of emergency and curfews

Singapore

HSFO380 and VLSFO availability is “super tight” in Singapore and requires 12-15 days of lead time, while LSMGO is shorter at 5-6 days.

Some suppliers are avoiding HSFO380 offers due to increased testing requirements, sources say. VLSFO availability is tight amid low availability of blend stocks.

Fuel testing firm Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) latest findings suggest that a total of 140,000 mt of chloride-contaminated HSFO380 was delivered by two bunker suppliers via 12 barges in Singapore between February and March.

VPS strongly suggests GC−MS HS test to detect chloride contamination and warns the fuel remains in supply chain and could possibly be reused or re-blended for further use.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s residual fuel oil and middle distillate stockpiles have been drawn to yet new lows this year, according to Enterprise Singapore.

East Asia

In Hong Kong, bunker demand remains robust after authorities lifted quarantine rules for cargo and bunker-only calls last month, sources say. HSFO380 availability is tighter compared to VLSFO and LSMGO, which require 4-5 days of lead time.

Low sulphur fuel availability in Zhoushan is normal. Some suppliers can offer limited prompt deliveries for LSMGO and VLSFO grades. HSFO380 remains tight as only some supplier can offer the grade, sources say.

South Korea’s southern ports of Busan, Ulsan and Yeosu continue to see tight prompt availability. Suggested lead times for VLSFO in these ports range from 5-7 days, depending on the supplier. Prompt LSMGO supply has also tightened because of pressure on overall barge availability.

In Port Klang, some suppliers can offer limited volumes of VLSFO and LSMGO for prompt deliveries, sources say.

In Manila, LSMGO availability is normal. The earliest delivery date is on 19 April with one supplier as bunker schedules are already filling up beyond the Easter holiday.

South Asia

Colombo’s bunker operations continue to be affected by the state of emergency and curfews imposed by the Sri Lankan government amid protest over the county’s worsening economic crisis at the beginning of this month.

The Sri Lanka Port Authority has said that Colombo port operates normally despite the curfews, while acknowledging they have encountered unprecedented challenges.

VLSFO and LSMGO supply has tightened in Colombo, but some suppliers can offer prompt deliveries depending on barge schedules. A supplier expects LSMGO replenishment stocks to arrive by next week.

Suppliers in Colombo are planning and coordinating their deliveries way in advance to raise awareness of potential supply disruptions from external factors outside of their control.

In India, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, and requires 2-4 days of lead time. In Mundra, LSMGO and VLSFO requires 5-6 days ahead, while HSFO380 is tighter and requires longer lead time.

Middle East

Availability is tight for all fuel grades in Fujairah. Lead times of around six days are recommended for VLSFO and LSMGO, and a longer eight days for HSFO380.

In Basra, bunker fuel availability is normal across all grades. A supplier can offer prompt deliveries for VLSFO and LSMGO, a source said.

Availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is normal in Duqm and Sohar port and requires 2-4 days of lead time, sources say.

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 13 April, 2022

Legal

Shell Singapore charged over Pulau Bukom oil leaks, reporting delays

Shell faces four charges under Singapore’s Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act over two 2024 oil discharge incidents at its Pulau Bukom facility.

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

2 MPA craft (left) supporting Shell craft in the clean up operations of the oil sheens taken on 28 Dec 9am

Shell Singapore has been charged over two incidents in 2024 involving oily mixtures discharged into Singapore waters from its facilities at Pulau Bukom, according to media reports on Tuesday (22 September).

The company faces four charges under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, including allegations that it failed to report the discharges to the port master immediately.

The first incident occurred on 20 October 2024, when approximately 40 metric tonnes (mt) of oily mixture was discharged through a hole in a pipeline at the Shell Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park at about 8am.

Shell is accused of reporting the incident to the port master at about 12.55pm, several hours after the discharge occurred.

The second incident took place between 26 and 28 December 2024. An estimated 485kg to 956kg of oil mixture was discharged into Singapore waters from the same facility.

Shell is accused of failing to report the incident immediately, with notification to the port master made at about 11.50am on 26 December 2024, according to the charges.

Singapore’s pollution-prevention regulations require occupiers of such facilities to report oil or oily-mixture discharges into Singapore waters “without delay and to the fullest extent possible”.

Shell’s representative requested an eight-week adjournment at the 22 September hearing, citing the need to obtain internal instructions, appoint counsel and locate historical records. The company said the business associated with the incidents had been divested in 2025.

The case was adjourned to October. Shell is also facing prosecution by Singapore’s National Environment Agency over the same incidents.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 25 September, 2026

Incident

MPA probes Singapore Strait collision involving fishing vessel, bulk carrier

MPA says there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel in the incident involving China-registered fishing vessel “Lu Qing Yuan Yu” and Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux” .

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

Panama-registered bulk carrier “First Margaux”

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (22 September) said it is investigating the incident involving the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu and the Panama-registered bulk carrier First Margaux in the Singapore Strait on 17 September.

MPA said there were no reported injuries among the crew of either vessel or pollution arising from the incident and navigational traffic was not affected.

Videos circulating on social media showed the bulk carrier colliding with the fishing vessel.

“The fishing vessel took on water during the incident but remained afloat and stable, with the crew taking measures to manage the situation onboard,” MPA said.

The vessel was subsequently towed to Raffles Reserved Anchorage for assessment.

Essential crew remained onboard to support the tow, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force supported the transfer of other crew to shore.

MPA added it also issued navigational safety broadcasts to keep other vessels clear of the tow and escorted the vessel into port with a MPA craft.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Arnold Pohen
Published: 25 September, 2026

Mass Flowmeter

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Bunker barge “Kingston Trader” is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

Published

13 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Admin

TFG Marine deploys first MFM-equipped bunker barge in Jamaica

Global marine fuel supply and procurement firm TFG Marine on Thursday (24 September) said its bunker barge Kingston Trader is currently on its way to Jamaica following the successful installation of a Coriolis mass flow meter (MFM) system, certified to ISO 22192.

The company said the latest installation brings the proportion of TFG Marine’s fleet equipped with MFMs to approximately 88%, marking another step in the continued rollout of this technology across its global bunkering operations.

“The barge will operate in Jamaica through our local partnership with Scott Petroleum, becoming the first bunkering vessel in the region equipped with this technology and bringing greater accuracy, transparency and assurance to fuel measurement for customers across the Caribbean,” TFG Marine said in a social media post.

“Together with Scott Petroleum, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the The Port Authority of Jamaica, Petrojam Limited and other stakeholders to share our experience of MFM technology, explore its wider benefits and support the continued development of bunkering standards across the region.”

Manifold Times previously reported TFG Marine continuing to expand MFM technology across its US Gulf Coast bunker fleet with Buffalo B414 and Buffalo B304 being fitted with the equipment.

Last year, TFG Marine announced it reached a key milestone in its global digitalisation programme with the installation of an ISO 22192-compliant MFM on the Buffalo 404, a barge on time charter from American bunker barge company Buffalo Marine Service Inc.

The installation was part of TFG Marine’s wider strategy to equip close to 90% of its global bunkering fleet with MFMs by 2026 as a commitment towards improving data integrity, streamlining operations and strengthening trust in marine fuel transactions.

Photo credit: TFG Marine
Published: 25 September, 2026