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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

ExxonMobil’s Antwerp refinery undergoes maintenance; Gibraltar and Algeciras suffer massive congestion; Swedish dockworkers to block Russian vessels and cargo.

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The following article regarding Europe and Africa bunker fuel availability has been provided by online marine fuel procurement platform ENGINE for post on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

  • ExxonMobil’s Antwerp refinery undergoes maintenance
  • Gibraltar and Algeciras suffer massive congestion
  • Swedish dockworkers to block Russian vessels and cargo

VLSFO and LSMGO availability has improved somewhat in the ARA and Gibraltar Strait bunkering hubs this week, while HSFO remains relatively tighter, sources say. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO is 4-6 days, and HSFO is around 7-10 days.

ExxonMobil announced last week that its Antwerp refinery is undergoing maintenance works. The company has not officially confirmed the duration of the maintenance, but traders expect it could take a month before the works are complete and production has normalised again. The refinery has a total nameplate capacity of 320,000 b/d, and produces fuel oil and gasoil for the local bunker market.

The refinery enters a turnaround at a time when Shell’s Pernis refinery in Rotterdam is already undergoing a major maintenance, scheduled to last until June.

TotalEnergies announced this week it will no longer enter into or renew contracts to purchase Russian oil and oil products, following several other European oil and gas firms in phasing out Russian oil imports.

Shell, BP, Equinor, Galp, Repsol, ENI and others have made similar announcements since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started a month ago, moves that could impact production at their refineries.

ARA’s independent gasoil stocks fell by 2% last week and remain close to recent multi-year lows, while fuel oil stocks held roughly steady below their five-year average, Insights Global data showed.

Availability of HSFO and LSMGO is tight in Hamburg, while VLSFO is normal. Demand is said to have been slow in recent days. Recommended lead times are around 3-5 days for VLSFO.

In nearby Bremerhaven, HSFO and VLSFO availability is better compared to LSMGO, which requires 4-5 days of lead time.

HSFO and LSMGO is “super tight” across Italian most ports. The tightness is largely due to the slowdown of Russian imports, which has also affected production at local refinery, sources say. VLSFO availability is fine in Genoa and prompt deliveries are possible.

Bunker fuel availability in Piraeus is normal but deliveries could be affected due to barge availability. “Suppliers are able to find one way or other to deliver the fuel, however prompt deliveries are difficult,” sources say. Recommended lead times are around 5-7 days.

The Swedish Dockworkers Union has notified Ports of Sweden that its workers will not handle any vessels or cargo from or to Russia in any Swedish ports from 28 March.

Around 85% of Sweden’s fuel oil imports come from Russia. Together with fuel oil imports from Norway (11%) and Finland (4%), the Russian fuel oil has supplemented domestic Swedish refinery production of fuel oil as a by-product, or as processed VLSFO.

Bunker operations outside Gibraltar’s outer port limits were suspended on Wednesday morning due to high swells and strong wind.

Similarly, bunkering at Algeciras’ outer C and D anchorages are likely to be affected due to strong winds and swell, says MH Bland. Bunker operations are possible at outer anchorages but are subject to decisions from the harbour master and barge operators.

The recent deteriorating weather conditions in Gibraltar and Algeciras will possibly add to existing congestion. A total of 35 vessels were waiting to bunker in the two ports on Wednesday.

Port all operations are also suspended in the bay of Ceuta, MH Bland says. Two vessels were waiting to bunker at anchorage in Ceuta on Wednesday, with another three vessels expected to arrive throughout the day, according to shipping agent Jose Salama & Cia.

Maersk announced on Tuesday it has stopped accepting any laden export containers in Ireland’s Dublin port- Marine Terminal Ltd (MTL), as the terminal is over-congested.

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 24 March, 2022

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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