Business

ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook

HSFO supply remains tight in Gibraltar Strait ports; ARA fuel oil stocks growing, gasoil drawn further; bunkering suspended by rough weather in Algoa Bay

Published

4 years ago

June 16, 2022

Admin

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:

15 June 2022

HSFO supply remains tight in Gibraltar Strait ports
ARA fuel oil stocks growing, gasoil drawn further
Bunkering suspended by rough weather in Algoa Bay

Northwest Europe

VLSFO and LSMGO supply seems normal in ARA ports as more suppliers are now offering prompt deliveries. The recommended lead time for VLSFO is around three days.

Availability of HSFO is under pressure, requiring a minimum of five days for delivery, sources say.

Independently held fuel oil stocks in the ARA increased by 880,000 bbls to 7.56 million bbls in the week to 9 June, while gasoil stocks fell by 290,000 bbls to 10.95 million bbls, according to Insights Global data.

The region’s fuel oil inventories have been bulking up since a slump in April, and gained 39% in volume since then. Its gasoil stocks have been drawn heavily in the past year, falling 41%.

Russia remains the top source of fuel oil imports for the ARA, accounting for 57% of the region’s total share in the first week of June, according to cargo tracker Vortexa. Its other sources of fuel oil import this month have included Ireland, UK, Germany, Poland and Finland.

Bunker fuel availability is normal in the German port of Hamburg, but supply of HSFO is under pressure, a source says. Very few suppliers are offering HSFO, and in limited quantities.

In Bremerhaven, supply of LSMGO is said to be good while prompt deliveries of VLSFO and HSFO are more difficult to find there, a source says. One supplier can typically offer prompt VLSFO and HSFO, depending on the quantity.

Mediterranean

Bunker supplies are under pressure in the Gibraltar Strait ports, particularly for HSFO, sources say.

The recommended lead time for HSFO delivery in Gibraltar is around seven days, while some suppliers can offer prompt delivery of VLSFO and LSMGO, a source says. Recommended lead times for VLSFO and LSMGO are around three days in Gibraltar.

Minimal congestion has been reported in Gibraltar this week. Two suppliers experiencing delays on Wednesday, port agent MH Bland says.

In Ceuta, bunker operations were running normally with minor congestion reported on Wednesday morning, agent Jose Salama & Cia says.

A barge that was taken out for drydock in Ceuta last week resumed operations from Monday. One vessel was waiting to bunker at anchorage in Ceuta on Wednesday, and two more were due to arrive.

In Malta, availability of VLSFO and LSMGO is under pressure, and prompt deliveries are difficult to find, a source says.

Africa

Supply of VLSFO is tight in Durban, where the recommended lead time for the grade is around two weeks, sources say.

Prompter deliveries of VLSFO can be hard to book in Durban, while LSMGO availability seems to be normal as some suppliers are offering the grade for prompt dates, the source adds.

Bunkering was suspended in Algoa Bay on Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions. There were seven vessels waiting to bunker in Algoa Bay and Port of Elizabeth, and three more due to arrive later in the day on Wednesday, Rennies Ships Agency says.

Additional 20 vessels are scheduled to arrive in Algoa Bay and Port of Elizabeth between Thursday and Sunday, it says. There is forecast of strong winds and gusts on Saturday, which could add to the bunker backlog, a source says.

Photo credit: ENGINE
Published: 16 June, 2022

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

19 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026