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ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook (17 Jan 2024)

LSMGO availability good in the ARA hub; inbound vessel traffic suspended in Gibraltar; LSMGO tight in Durban and Richards Bay.

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RESIZED ENGINE Europe and Africa

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:

  • LSMGO availability good in the ARA hub
  • Inbound vessel traffic suspended in Gibraltar
  • LSMGO tight in Durban and Richards Bay

Northwest Europe

Prompt LSMGO availability is good in Rotterdam and in the wider ARA hub. Lead times of 2-4 days are recommended for the grade, sources say.

Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for VLSFO and HSFO.

The ARA’s independently held fuel oil stocks have averaged 14% higher so far this month than across December, according to Insights Global Data.

The region has imported 115,000 b/d of fuel oil so far this month, down from 220,000 b/d imported in December, cargo tracker Vortexa data shows.

The UK has been the biggest fuel import oil source for the ARA hub, accounting for 69% of its total fuel oil imports in January. Denmark (10%) has ranked second, while Poland (9%) is in third position. The other import sources have been Lithuania (7%) and Germany (5%).

Meanwhile, the ARA hub’s independent gasoil inventories — which include diesel and heating oil — have increased by 6% so far this month. The ARA has imported 450,000 b/d of gasoil so far this month, up from 373,000 b/d imported in December.

Off Skaw, recommended lead times are 5-7 days for LSMGO and VLSFO, a trader said. HSFO availability continues to be tight, with only non-prompt deliveries with 7-10 days of lead time available.

Meanwhile, availability is good for all grades in the German port of Hamburg. A trader recommends lead times of 3-5 days for all grades in the port.

Mediterranean

In Gibraltar, LSMGO is available with shorter lead times of 4-6 days, a trader said. Lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for HSFO, and 5-6 days for VLSFO.

All inbound vessel traffic was suspended in Gibraltar on Wednesday because of strong gale-force wind gusts of up to 36 knots, port agent MH Bland said. A window of calmer weather on Thursday could allow bunkering to fully resume before conditions deteriorate again on Friday.

Meanwhile, vessels in the anchorage area were still receiving bunkers on Wednesday. Bunker supply was available for vessels in the bay area, MH Bland told ENGINE. 

In the nearby Ceuta, bad weather has pushed the earliest date for barge delivery to 21 January, a trader said. Wind gusts of 37 knots also hit Ceuta on Wednesday.

In Huelva, bunkering is expected to remain partially suspended until Saturday due to rough weather conditions, MH Bland said. Currently, bunkering can be carried out via barge at the anchorage area.

Meanwhile, bunkering is progressing smoothly in the Portuguese ports of Lisbon and Sines. VLSFO and LSMGO supply is said to be normal in both ports.

Off Malta, availability is good across all grades. Delays are expected off Malta as some suppliers are working to clear bunker backlogs, a source said. Wind gusts of 21 knots are forecast off Malta on Thursday, which could impact bunkering.

In the Greek port of Piraeus, availability is normal for all grades, a trader said. Rough weather conditions are forecast over the weekend, with wind speeds forecast to touch 32 knots on Saturday.

Delays are also expected in the Turkish port of Istanbul because of congestion and bunker backlogs, a source said. Availability for all grades is good in Istanbul. Wind gusts of 26 knots are forecast in Istanbul over the weekend, which could impact bunkering.

Africa

Bunker demand remains strong in several African ports as shipping companies divert their vessels from the Suez Canal region to the Cape of Good.

In the South African ports of Durban and Richards Bay, lead times of 5-7 days are recommended for VLSFO. LSMGO remains tight at both ports, with lead times well over ten days, according to a trader.  

The ports of Nacala and Maputo in Mozambique continue to witness high bunker demand, especially from container vessels. No congestion was reported in both ports on Wednesday. However, some sources suggest that bunker buyers should ideally book stems in advance to ensure timely supply.

VLSFO and LSMGO enquiries have been high in Nacala this week. All three grades remain in good supply in Nacala. Similarly, Maputo has good availability for VLSFO and LSMGO. The port is experiencing slight tightness in barge availability, a source told ENGINE.

By Manjula Nair

 

Photo credit and source: ENGINE
Published: 18 January, 2024

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Incident

Singapore: Bunker spill leads to checks on all fuel pipes at other Police Coast Guard bases

Police said fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February.

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The recent oil leak incident at Police Coast Guard (PCG) Brani Regional Base has prompted checks on all fuel pipes at PCG’s three other bases for leaks, according to The Straits Times on Monday (10 February). 

Responding to queries from the local news provider, the police said all fuel pipes at Brani Regional Base were inspected on 6 February while fuel pipes at the other three bases at Loyang, Lim Chu Kang and Gul are also being checked with inspections expected to be wrapped up on 10 February. 

The police also said that a preliminary assessment on the cause of the leak might be due to micro cracks in a damaged fuel pipe as a result of repeated twisting of the pipe due to the movement of the pontoons caused by tidal changes.

On 6 February, Singapore authorities confirmed that a diesel oil leak was discovered at the Brani Regional Base on 5 February, at around 11.40am (Singapore Time). 

According to a joint statement by Singapore Police Force, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and National Environment Agency (NEA), about 23 metric tonnes had leaked from a damaged shore fuel hose used to refuel patrol craft at Selat Sengkir. 

The leak was eventually isolated at about 3.40pm and there were no oil slicks observed.

Related: Singapore confirms bunker spill from damaged shore fuel hose at Brani Regional Base

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Biofuel

NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Firm said it has started a biofuel test run on Noshiro Maru, operated by Tohoku Electric Power, marking the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility firm.

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NYK conducts first Japan bio bunker fuel trial on coal carrier for domestic power utility firm

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Monday (10 February) said it has started a biofuel test run on its coal carrier Noshiro Maru, which is operated by Tohoku Electric Power on 9 February.

This is the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility company. Mitsubishi Corporation Energy in the Keihin area facilitated the supply of biofuel for the vessel.

Biofuels are made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil, and are considered to produce virtually zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted.

“Since they can be used in heavy-oil-powered ship engines, which are common on large merchant ships, biofuels are considered a key means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transition period from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels,” NYK said. 

“Using biofuel to reduce GHG emissions during sea navigation also contributes to reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions generated by transporting customers’ cargo.”

NYK added it will continue to focus on introducing biofuels and other next-generation fuels, and will contribute to reducing GHG emissions in our customers' supply chains while promoting decarbonisation in marine transport.

 

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 11 February, 2025

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Biofuel

IBIA welcomes IMO move to draft guidance change on carriage of bio bunker fuels

IBIA welcomed agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on PPR 12 to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships.

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The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) on Monday (10 February) said it submitted a document to IMO on the carriage of biofuels for supply to a ship for use as fuel oil on board that ship in November 2023.

This highlighted that as conventional bunker vessels were limited in carrying fuel oil of no more than 25% biofuel it presented a potential impediment to the global adoption of biofuels as fuel oil for ships and so to the ambition for the decarbonization of international shipping in the short term, as set out in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.

“IBIA therefore welcomes the agreement by IMO’s Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12) to draft Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships,” it said on its website. 

The guidance allows conventional bunker ships certified for carriage of oil fuels under MARPOL Annex I to transport blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel, as long as all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore, unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. 

“The Interim Guidance is expected to be approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) in April,” IBIA added. 

“IBIA’s membership represents stakeholders from across the global marine fuel value chain, and being able to draw on this technically strong and credible resource will, in its role of having consultative status to the IMO, mean that IBIA will continue to bring important matters to the attention of the wider IMO membership for due consideration.”

 

Photo credit: International Bunker Industry Association
Published: 11 February, 2025

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