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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Indonesian ports unscathed after earthquake; still tight availability in Hong Kong; Zhoushan grapples with more weather disruptions.

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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:

22 November 2022

  • Indonesian ports unscathed after earthquake
  • Still tight availability in Hong Kong
  • Zhoushan grapples with more weather disruptions

 

Singapore

Availability across all fuel grades remains tight in Singapore. Recommended lead times for VLSFO in the port are 9-11 days, while 7-10 days are required for HSFO.

The port’s residual fuel oil inventories have averaged 4% lower so far in November compared to October, despite a big increase in net imports, according to Enterprise Singapore.

HSFO cargoes have primarily arrived from Turkey so far this month, followed by Russia and Malaysia, going by Vortexa cargo tracking data.

Some suppliers have held back offers for HSFO in Singapore, which has contributed to keep its price elevated, a source says. Lead times of 7-10 days are recommended for HSFO in the port.

 

East Asia

Bunkering operations in Zhoushan’s outer port limits (OPL) might be suspended by bad weather from the evening of 22 November, according to White Whale Shipping Agency. Strong winds ranging between 19-27 knots are forecast to hit the port. OPL bunkering is likely to resume on 23 November’s evening, when calmer weather is forecast.

Availability of VLSFO remains steady in Zhoushan, with recommended lead times of five days. Lead times of seven days are required for HSFO in the port.

LSMGO remains extremely tight in Zhoushan as several suppliers have almost run out of stocks. Replenishment cargoes are due to arrive in the end of November, which is likely to alleviate the situation, a source says. Lead times for the grade are subject to enquiry currently.

Meanwhile, availability across all grades remains steady in South Korean ports, with recommended lead times of five days. Bunkering might be hampered by rough weather in southern South Korean ports including Busan and Yeosu between 23-24 November. Delivery of stems are subject to weather conditions currently, a source says.

Availability of prompt dates across all grades in Hong Kong remains tight, with lead times of 7-8 days. One supplier can accommodate shorter lead times for VLSFO, a source says.

In Indonesia, the effects of a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the Cianjur region on Monday have mostly been felt in the western parts of Java, while suppliers continue to deliver stems in the ports of Jakarta, Surabaya and Balikpapan, a trader says.

 

South Asia

Several Indian ports, including Mumbai, Mundra and Kandla on the northwest coast, and Cochin and Chennai on the southern coast, have good availability of VLSFO with lead times of 2-3 days.

Meanwhile, VLSFO availability is subject to inquiry in Tuticorin.

Visakhapatnam and Haldia on India’s east coast have recommended lead times of 2-3 days for VLSFO. Suppliers in Paradip have almost run out of VLSFO.

One supplier can provide prompt dates for all the grades in the Sri Lankan port of Colombo.

 

Middle East

Fujairah’s suppliers have been grappling with low demand for VLSFO since the beginning of October. Less VLSFO sales contributed to pull down Fujairah’s total bunker sales by 2% in October, according to data compiled by Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Sources attributed lower demand to a lack of movement in bulk and container vessels.

VLSFO stems can be delivered in Fujairah in five days, while recommended lead times for LSMGO and HSFO are four days.

Very prompt deliveries (0-3 days) of VLSFO are available in the Omani port of Sohar. Prompt LSMGO is also available in Duqm and Sohar, and typically requires lead times of 2-3 days.

By Tuhin Roy

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 23 November, 2022

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Methanol

Chimbusco completes bunkering op of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

“COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU” was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco in Shanghai on 11 May.

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Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco) completed a bunkering operation of the first domestically manufactured methanol dual-fuel container ship in Shanghai on 11 May, according to COSCO Shipping on Thursday (15 May). 

COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU was supplied approximately 900 metric tonnes (mt) of methanol marine fuel by Chimbusco at Pier 1 of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. 

The operation started on 7 May but was postponed due to unfavourable weather from the Jianghuai Cyclone.

Chimbusco completes bunkering of China’s first 16,000K TEU methanol DF boxship

COSCO Shipping said the operation marked an important achievement in green and low-carbon transformation in shipping, from ship construction and ecological layout of the entire green fuel industry chain of the company. 

Manifold Times previously reported the naming ceremony of China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship, COSCO SHIPPING YANGPU in Yangzhou.

The methanol dual-fuel container ship named was the first in a series of vessels from COSCO Shipping Holdings, constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Yangzhou. 

Related: COSCO Shipping names China’s first 16,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship

 

Photo credit: Cosco Shipping
Published: 23 May, 2025

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

Initial checks revealed that insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all six crew members on board failed to provide valid identification documents.

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Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday (22 May) said it has detained a suspicious tanker at about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary on 20 May. 

Kelantan MMEA director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi said an MMEA asset had detained the tanker while patrolling the Malaysia-Vietnam border. 

The vessel was detected after displaying several suspicious signs at around 1 pm before it was successfully detained 20 minutes later.

Malaysia: MMEA detains Thai tanker off Kelantan after shown suspicious documents

“Initial checks revealed the vessel has six crew members, including a captain and all are believed to be Thai citizens aged between 38 and 70,” he said.

It was also found that the insurance documents and other documents related to the vessel appeared suspicious and all the crews on board the vessel failed to provide valid identification documents during the check. 

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 23 May, 2025

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LNG Bunkering

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge “Haugesund Knutsen” supplying the “Mein Schiff Relax” cruise ship at Port of Barcelona, says Dexter Belmar of Shell.

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Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Energy giant Shell recently conducted its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona, according to Dexter Belmar, General Manager and Head of Global Downstream LNG on Thursday (22 May).

He said the milestone was achieved by Shell’s LNG bunker barge Haugesund Knutsen supplying the Mein Schiff Relax cruise ship.

“Barcelona, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading cruise ports, is also a key LNG bunkering location for Shell as we help more cruise ships transition to lower-emission fuels,” he said in a social media post. 

“A huge thank you to Royal Caribbean Group for their trust, and to Knutsen and Port of Barcelona for their collaboration in making this bunkering safe and efficient.”

Shell wraps up its first LNG bunkering operation for TUI Cruises in Barcelona

Belmar said LNG is leading the way as the preferred alternative bunker fuel in the cruise industry. 

“At Shell, we’re proud to support LNG fuelling needs at 26 locations worldwide, including major cruise ports like Bahamas, Barcelona, Canaveral, Everglades, Jamaica, Miami, Singapore, Southampton, and Tenerife,” he added. 

 

Photo credit: Shell
Published: 23 May, 2025

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