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ENGINE: East of Suez Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

Prompt supply tight in Singapore and Fujairah; VLSFO availability tight in Zhoushan; Russia exports more fuel oil to Singapore and Fujairah.

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LATEST ENGINE East of Suez Bunker

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:

9 May 2023

  • Prompt supply tight in Singapore and Fujairah
  • VLSFO availability tight in Zhoushan
  • Russia exports more fuel oil to Singapore and Fujairah

 

Singapore

HSFO and VLSFO availability is tight in Singapore. Recommended lead times for HSFO vary between 7-12 days, while VLSFO requires 9-12 days of lead time.

LSMGO is more readily available with lead times of 3-5 days.

Residual fuel oil stocks in Singapore averaged 3% higher in April than across March, data from Enterprise Singapore shows. In April, Russia replaced Brazil to become Singapore's biggest fuel oil import source with 21% of the total, according to cargo tracker Vortexa.

 

East Asia

Securing VLSFO stems for prompt dates in Zhoushan can be difficult. The earliest date for the grade's delivery there now stands on 15 May, a source says. HSFO and LSMGO supply requires lead times of 3-5 days.

Bunkering at Zhoushan’s outer port limit (OPL) area was put on hold between Monday and Tuesday due to rough weather conditions. Calmer weather conditions are forecast for the rest of the week.

A bunker barge that carries 0.50% MGO in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung is undergoing maintenance until 30 May. As a result, deliveries of 0.50% MGO stem sizes of over 300 mt could be delayed, a source says.

Prompt availability of all grades remains tight in South Korea’s Ulsan port. The earliest VLSFO delivery date with two suppliers is from 19 May onwards. Meanwhile, two suppliers can supply stems from 15 May, but these deliveries are subject to enquiry, a source says.

Strong wind gusts of up to 22 knots are forecast to hit Hong Kong on Wednesday and could hinder bunker deliveries.

LSMGO availability is normal in the Philippines’ Manila port, a trader says.

The Thai port of Koh Sichang is forecast to experience adverse weather on 13 May, and the Kiwi port of Tauranga between Tuesday and Thursday this week, which might hamper bunkering.

 

South Asia

VLSFO and LSMGO availability is normal in India's Mumbai port.

Some Indian ports are already preparing for severe weather conditions during the monsoon season which typically starts in June. Kandla’s Deendayal Port Authority has asked all vessels to keep their engines always on standby considering the upcoming rough weather conditions, according to GAC Hot Port News.

 

Middle East

All grades remain tight for prompt dates in Fujairah. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for all grades in the UAE port. Smaller stem sizes can have longer lead times, a source says.

Fujairah’s fuel oil inventories averaged 7% lower in April than in March, data from Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) and S&P Global shows. Distillate stocks surged by 18% on the month.

Russia remained Fujairah’s biggest fuel oil import source in April – a position it has been holding since October. Almost 42% of Fujairah's fuel oil imports came from Russia in April, followed by 32% from Iran and 14% from Kuwait.

Lead times of 4-5 days are advised for all grades in the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, but a few suppliers can perform prompt deliveries there. Bunker stems are mostly delivered by trucks in the port.

By Nithin Chandran

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 10 May, 2023

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Methanol

Kambara Kisen orders methanol dual-fuel bulker from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding

Firm ordered a 65,700-dwt methanol dual-fuel dry bulk carrier with Tsuneishi Shipbuilding; MOL signed a basic agreement on time charter for the newbuilding that is slated to be delivered in 2027.

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Kambara Kisen orders methanol dual-fuel bulker from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding

Japanese shipowner Kambara Kisen has ordered a 65,700-dwt methanol dual-fuel dry bulk carrier newbuilding from Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, according to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Wednesday (20 September).

MOL said it signed a basic agreement on time charter for the newbuilding that is slated to be delivered in 2027. 

The vessel will be designed to use e-methanol produced primarily by synthesising recovered CO2 and hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, and bio-methanol derived from biogas. 

The vessel's design maximises cargo space while ensuring sufficient methanol tank capacity set to allow the required navigational distance assuming various routes, at the same time maximising cargo space. 

MOL added the vessel is expected to serve mainly in the transport of biomass fuels from the east coast of North America to Europe and the U.K. and within the Pacific region, as well as grain from the east coast of South America and the U.S. Gulf Coast to Europe and the Far East.

Details on the time-charter contract:

Shipowner: Kambara Kisen wholly owned subsidiary
Charterer: MOL Drybulk Ltd.
Charter period 2027: -

Details on the newbuilding methanol dual fuel bulk carrier:

LOA: About 200 m
Breadth: About 32.25 m
Draft: About 13.80 m
Deadweight: About 65,700 MT
Hold capacity: About 81,500m3
Shipyard: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 22 September, 2023

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Methanol

Argus Media: Alternatives may drive methanol market growth

Driven by low-carbon policies and regulations, the transportation sector — especially the marine fuels industry — could be a source of heightened demand, according to Argus.

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RESIZED Argus media

The growth of sustainable alternatives to traditional methanol production sources likely will shape the market over the next several years, industry leaders said this week at the Argus Methanol Forum.

20 September 

Driven by low-carbon policies and regulations, the transportation sector — especially the marine fuels industry — could be a source of heightened demand.

"The aim is to be net zero by 2050 but [those solutions are] expensive today and one of the main challenges to build e-methanol or bio-methanol plants is a huge queue for these pieces of equipment that aren't available," Anita Gajadhar, executive director for Swiss-based methanol producer Proman, said.

Bio-based and e-methanol plants of commercial scale, like Proman's natural gas-fed 1.9 million metric tonne/yr M5000 plant in Trinidad and Tobago, are not ready today.

"But that's not to say 10 years from now they won't be there," Gajadhar added.

Smaller projects are popping up. Dutch fuels and gas supplier OCI Global announced plans last week to double the green methanol capacity at its Beaumont, Texas, facility to 400,000 t/yr and will add e-methanol to production for the first time. Production will use feedstocks such as renewable natural gas (RNG), green hydrogen and biogas.

The globally oversupplied methanol market will not get any major supply additions starting in 2024 until 2027. But that oversupply will not last long, Gajadhar said.

Global demand has slowed this year, driven by stagnate economic growth and higher interest rates, according to industry observers.

As much as half of methanol demand is tied to GDP growth, with total methanol demand estimates at 88.9mn t globally in 2023. This is essentially flat from 2022, but up from 88.3m t in 2021 and 87.7mn t in 2020, Dave McCaskill, vice-president of methanol and derivatives for Argus Media's consulting service, said.

Demand is not expected to rebound to 2019 levels of 89.6mn t until 2024 or 2025, he added.

The period of oversupply combined with lackluster demand places methanol in a transition period, Gajadhar said, which opens the door for sustainable feedstock alternatives to shape market growth.

Danish container shipping giant Maersk and French marine logistics company CMA-CGM announced earlier this week a partnership to drive decarbonization in shipping. The partnership seeks to develop fuel and operations standards for bunkering with alternative fuels. The companies will develop net-zero solutions, including new technology and alternative fuels.

Maersk has previously ordered dual-fuel methanol-powered vessels and CMA-CGM LNG-propelled vessels.

The demand for alternative feedstock-derived fuels is there, but the ability to scale-up such production lags. Certified lower-carbon methanol produced using carbon capture and sequestration — also known as blue methanol— can ramp up much more quickly, according to Gajadhar.

By Steven McGinn

Photo credit and source: Argus Media
Published: 22 September, 2023

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Biofuel

Royal Caribbean completes over 12 weeks of bio bunker fuel testing in Europe

Firm expanded its biofuel testing this summer in Europe to two additional ships — Royal Caribbean International’s “Symphony of the Seas” and Celebrity Cruises’ “Celebrity Apex”.

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Royal Caribbean completes over 12 weeks of bio bunker fuel testing in Europe

Royal Caribbean Group on Tuesday (19 September) said it successfully completed over 12 consecutive weeks of biofuel testing in Europe. 

Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas became the first ship in the maritime industry to successfully test and use a biofuel blend in Barcelona to meet part of her fuel needs. 

The company confirmed onboard technical systems met operational standards, without quality or safety concerns, demonstrating the biofuel blend is a reliable “drop in” supply of lower emission energy that ships can use to set sail across Europe and beyond. 

The tests across Europe also provided valuable data to understand the availability and scalability of biofuel in the region, the firm added. 

Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Royal Caribbean Group’s alternative fuel journey.”

“Following our successful trial of biofuels this summer, we are one step closer to bringing our vision for net-zero cruising to life. As we strive to protect and promote the vibrant oceans we sail, we are determined to accelerate innovation and improve how we deliver vacation experiences responsibly.”

President of the Port of Barcelona, Lluís Salvadó, said: “Royal Caribbean’s success is a clear example of how commitment to innovation makes possible the development of solutions to decarbonise the maritime sector.”

“In this case, it involves the cruise sector and focuses on biofuels, an area in which the Port of Barcelona is already working to become an energy hub, producing and supplying zero carbon fuels, such as green hydrogen and ammonia, and of other almost zero-carbon alternative fuels, such as methanol, biofuels or synthetic fuels. Innovation and collaboration between ports and shipping companies is key to accelerate the decarbonisation of maritime transport.”

The company began testing biofuels last year and expanded the trail this summer in Europe to two additional ships — Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex

The sustainable biofuel blends tested were produced by purifying renewable raw materials like waste oils and fats and combining them with fuel oil to create an alternative fuel that is cleaner and more sustainable. The biofuel blends tested are accredited by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally recognized organization that ensures sustainability of biofuels and verifies reductions of related emissions.

With Symphony of the Seas departing from the Port of Barcelona and Celebrity Apex departing from the Port of Rotterdam, both ships accomplished multiple sailings using biofuel and contributed critical data on the fuel’s capabilities. 

“These results will help accelerate Royal Caribbean Group’s plans to continue testing the use of different types of biofuels on upcoming European sailings this fall. The company is exploring strategic partnerships with suppliers and ports to ensure the availability of biofuel and infrastructures to advance the maritime energy transition,” the firm said. 

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean Group 
Published: 22 September, 2023

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